Do the local building regulations call for special standards to counter the effects of earthquakes?
The objective is to prevent structures from collapsing, and thereby avoid loss of life, by building strengthening factors into the design. A building should be able to withstand the horizontal and vertical forces, resulting from the ground shaking violently during an earthquake. The typical residence in the Dominican Republic is made of concrete and eminently able to withstand such pressures. As a consequence, the special regulatory provisions only apply to buildings over four floors. Earthquake expert, engineer Rafael Corominas explains that the city of Santiago is very vulnerable to earthquakes. He said that five kilometers from the city, the Caribbean and North American tectonic plates meet. The plate crosses the island entering by way of the Manzanillo Bay leaving through Samana province.
