Urban planner Palafox urges structural audit of skyscrapers after Taiwan quake

Architect and urban planner Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr. has called on the government to conduct a structural audit of tall buildings in the country following a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that jolted Taiwan early this week.

Architect and urban planner Jun Palafox, citing a 2004 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, says 3% of high-rise buildings and more than 10% of low-rise buildings may collapse should a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hits Metro Manila. pic.twitter.com/pbcUuwHL51

— Ted Cordero (@Ted_Cordero) April 5, 2024

In a chance interview with reporters on Friday, Palafox, citing a 2004 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), said that “with a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, 3% of high-rise buildings may collapse [and] more than 10% of low-rise buildings will collapse.”

The architect, founder of the architecture firm Palafox Associates, said that such buildings “may involve corruption” as he called on contractors and developers to “speak up now.”

With this, Palafox said that “buildings should have a structural audit and retrofit.”

“We really have to revisit our structural code or building code,” he said.

The architect, however, said newer buildings are better equipped to withstand strong earthquakes.

“We borrowed the structural code of other countries,” Palafox said.

Palafox cited the Taipei 101, which had gone viral for swinging gently amidst the tremors.

“Tall buildings are better designed than low-rise buildings and Taipei 101 they have a damper like, there’s a pendulum so it balances the swaying,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said that there are now four Filipinos reported hurt following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Taiwan. 

Wednesday's earthquake in Taiwan's sparsely populated eastern county of Hualien killed 10 people, and left hundreds of people stranded in a national park as boulders barreled down mountains, cutting off roads.

Taiwanese rescuers were looking for 18 people still missing as of Friday.—LDF, GMA Integrated News