The Chairman of the Presidential Earthquake Committee Prof. Dr. Cavit Atalar stated that the most important issue in the country is that the public does not fully accept the earthquake risk or the earthquake reality of Cyprus.

Noting that the earthquake regulations should be updated and buildings should be built accordingly, Atalar said, “We should not build buildings everywhere.”

The Chairman of the Presidential Earthquake Committee, Head of the Near East University Earthquake and Soil Research and Evaluation Centre, Head of the Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Professional Geological Engineer Prof. Dr. Atalar spoke to TAK news agency and made evaluations on the earthquake issue.

Emphasizing that the most important issue in the country is that the public does not fully accept the earthquake risk or the earthquake reality of Cyprus, Atalar underlined that the public should be forced to believe this adding that nothing is more precious than human life in the world.

Stating that earthquake regulations have changed over time in the country, Atalar said that although the 2007 regulation is currently applied, this regulation should be changed as soon as possible adding that they are working on further improving the regulations.

Referring to the fact that countries have earthquake zones, he noted that the earthquake zones of Cyprus, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot Administration are different.

“It should be the same. Earthquakes know no borders” said Atalar.

“Our biggest problem in Cyprus is building earthquake-resistant structures and the failure to strengthen or reconstruct existing buildings. Everything must be considered before buildings are constructed” he said warning that locations of buildings must be chosen and not built randomly.

He also noted that buildings to be built on soft ground require higher costs than hard ground in order to be robust.