Comments on: Son of a bitch, I knew I felt something!

By: Sperwer

Sperwer — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:35:48 +0000

This article in the Dong-A is sobering:

http://english.donga.com/srv/s.....7012371778

It reports on simulations done by the government based on the assumption

that an earthquake registering 5.2 on the Richter scale took place 1.39 km northwest of Pyeongchang-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul (latitude 37.62, longitude 126.96), 30km deep at 3:48 p.m.

The outcome was shocking. In Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon, 60,293 buildings were destroyed and 36,197 people died. In downtown Seoul alone, 52,530 buildings were destroyed and 27,640 citizens died.

The scope of the projected damage apparently is due to insufficiency of required construction countermeasures:

The government has mandated that buildings with more than six floors be earthquake-proof since 1988. In 1992, that mandate was extended to roads and bridges, and in 2005, buildings with more than three floors. However, the data of the Ministry of Construction and Transportation showed that 60 percent of buildings with more than six floors and more than 27 percent of main transportation facilities such as bridges and tunnels were not designed to be earthquake-proof.

Professor Kim said, “I cannot believe even earthquake-free buildings exist on paper,” referring to earthquake-proof standards that consider earthquake loads but which don’t have specific regulations on factors affecting building stability, such as reinforcing rods.

Since I live in Pyeongchang-dong, I’m even more interested in the unanswered question why my neighborhood was chosen as the epicenter of the simulated quake.

By: Mirei

Mirei — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 13:39:20 +0000

Mother Nature is really pissed off, isn’t she?

Be afraid, be very very afraid. >_>

By: railwaycharm

railwaycharm — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 07:48:22 +0000

‘Pawi, while I appreciate your “compliment,” might I suggest that if you’re got something to say to Nomad, you take it to him directly via his blog.’

you piss me off a lot because i don’t like your politics, but then, i know i’m not your favorite either. my compliment wasn’t directed at you. whatever i direct towads you will have your name.

but anyway, you’re right. i apologize.

Patches O’Houlihan is rolling in his grave.

By: slim

slim — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 04:12:28 +0000

Have they ruled out more subsurface fucking around by the Norks?

By: michael

michael — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 01:05:46 +0000

Someguy, earthquakes are not uncommon in Korea, they’re usually around a level 3 magnitude or less.

By: SomeguyinKorea

SomeguyinKorea — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 00:31:51 +0000

michael, nobody is claiming that the quake was anything but mild. It’s just that they are quite rare in Korea, which is why it was a surprise.

By: michael

michael — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 00:00:56 +0000

A 4.8 quake is really mild–in California you get that level several times a year. For comparison, the L.A. (Northridge) quake in 1994 was a 6.7 and it leveled buildings.

Here’s a good site if you’re a quake junkie (I’ve got it bookmarked):
http://www.iris.edu/seismon/

By: ShawnLee

ShawnLee — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 13:45:42 +0000

I knew it!

My friend and I (we’re both from Southern California) were hanging out watching a movie when we looked at each other and said, “Earthquake? Earthquake.”

By: dogbertt

dogbertt — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 11:26:31 +0000

I felt it in Seoul.

By: Sperwer

Sperwer — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 08:17:11 +0000

I once had a construction worker tell me 95% of the structures he worked on were under code

And “code” - the current one that actually purports to require moderately quake resistant buildings - is only about 3-4 years old. Before that the requirements were so much lower as to be laughable - and still the knuckleheads cut corners a la Sampoong Dept. Store