Earthquake-resisting building in Pakistan

This case study highlights that the post-1935 earthquake buildings performed well in Pakistan during the 1955 earthquake. Most of the damage was to the unreinforced walls of compounds rather than to buildings themselves. Although the maximum intensity felt at the ground reached VII on the modified Mercalli scale (compared with VIII in 1935), only a handful of people were killed. The post-1935 earthquake was the only time the colonial government in India attempted to impose earthquake-resisting standards on an entire city, including privately-owned land. Officials checked plans and made inspections to ensure compliance.

This case study includes the following key messages:

• Earthquake-resisting building codes work when they are properly enforced.
• In Quetta, Pakistan, ‘earthquake-proof’ buildings constructed after a devastating 1935 disaster performed well during the next major earthquake, in 1955.