Seismic activity in the Vrancea zone (Romania) and two earthquakes over the past six months, which were felt by the residents of Moldova, alarmed the public and divided it into two camps. Some predict that new multi-story buildings will be destroyed by a massive earthquake and claim that the houses of the Soviet standard construction are the most earthquake-resistant. Another opinion is that in the event of a massive earthquake, we cannot avoid the total destruction of the old housing stock. A Roofing survey could help you check if your house needs a repair or maybe a big change in order to survive an earthquake.

There are several million very weak, twenty thousand moderate, and seven thousand massive earthquakes every year. There are about 150 destructive ones. Every hour about 10 earthquakes occur on our planet. For some reason, earthquakes most often occur at night or at dawn.

First, an underground rumble is heard, and the earth begins to tremble. Then there is a series of tremors, in which plots of land can rise and fall. All this lasts a few seconds, and sometimes just over a minute. But during this time, great disasters can occur.

The danger is represented by earthquakes with an intensity of 7 points and above. An intensity of 1 is not felt by humans. Fluctuations of 2-3 points are already noticeable, especially on the upper floors of buildings, where chandeliers begin to swing. Concussions of 4-5 points are felt by almost everyone, and the sleeping ones wake up from them. Strong shocks are considered 6 points.

Furniture moves and falls in buildings, people run out into the street in fright.

In an earthquake of 7-8, it is difficult to stand on your feet. Cracks appear in the walls of houses and on roads, flights of stairs fall, underground communications are torn. A 9-point earthquake is called devastating. The earth is cracking, buildings are crumbling. Destructive earthquakes occur at 10-11 points. Breaks up to a meter wide appear in the ground. Roads, bridges, embankments, dams are damaged. Water splashes out from reservoirs. All buildings are turned into ruins. 12 points is already a total disaster.

The earth’s surface is changing, huge faults pierce it. Some territories settle and flood, others rise tens of meters.

The landscape is changing, waterfalls and new lakes are being formed, river beds are changing. Most plants and animals die. Deputy Director of the Institute of Geology and Seismology of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Moldova, doctor habilitat of geophysical sciences Vasiliy Alkaz explained: “According to the seismic zoning map, the territory of Moldova is divided into three zones of seismic hazard.

The least seismic hazard is the northeast, where earthquakes can reach an intensity of 6 points, the most in the south, where shocks of 8 points on the 12-point seismic scale MSK are felt. But the problem is that, for example, in Chisinau or in another city, the expected intensity may be more or less, depending on the engineering and geological conditions

. Chisinau is in the seven-point zone, but in the case of tremors, this does not mean that the tremors will be the same. Somewhere it will be up to 7 points, somewhere 8, and somewhere they can even feel 8.5 points. But if the planned seismic hazard was taken into account in the design and construction of the house, then it will surely withstand a massive earthquake.