Manila city engineer eyes liquefaction as cause of building's tilt
Published Apr 24, 2019 02:49 pm
By Erma Edera
The tilting of Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) building in Manila after a magnitude 6.1 tremor hits parts of Luzon is probably caused by liquefaction, according to the city engineer of Manila.
Two staff members of the Manila City Hall Engineering look on the building of Emilio Aguinaldo College which was destroyed during the 6.1 earthquake. The building was leaned beside a newly constructed condominium along San Marcelino in Manila. (ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to Roger Legaspi, city engineer of Manila, they are still evaluating the damage and determining the degree of tilting of the building.
"Meron po sigurong movement sa foundation, merong liquefaction, or loosening of the soil sa ilalim kaya may failure kaya po nagkaroon ng tilting if ever. I already sent a surveyor to determine the degree of tilting,” (There may be movement of foundation, liquefaction, or loosening of the soil under the building that’s why there was a failure and there was tilting), he said in a radio interview.
Liquefaction takes place when loosely packed, water-logged sediments at or near the ground surface lose their strength in response to strong ground shaking. It occurs beneath buildings and other structures which can cause major damage during earthquakes, United States Geological Survey said.
Legaspi also assured there was no damage to the adjacent building on which the EAC structure leaned.
On the other hand, the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) also recommended the administrators of the college to investigate the structural integrity of the school building.
According to city administrator Ericson Alcovendaz, they will not withdraw yet the occupancy permit it issued to EAC because the building kept its “structural integrity.”
“Only the designs were destroyed. That is why (Legaspi) is not recommending yet the withdrawal of EAC’s occupancy permit,” he said.
Meanwhile, EAC has announced in their Facebook page that classes on all levels will tentatively resume on April 29, 2019, Monday.
"Classes will tentatively resume on Monday, April 29, 2019, to give way for the checking and assessment of the EAC buildings," the post showed.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the safety officer of EAC has already been instructed to vacate and cease using the building due to the incident.
Two staff members of the Manila City Hall Engineering look on the building of Emilio Aguinaldo College which was destroyed during the 6.1 earthquake. The building was leaned beside a newly constructed condominium along San Marcelino in Manila. (ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to Roger Legaspi, city engineer of Manila, they are still evaluating the damage and determining the degree of tilting of the building.
"Meron po sigurong movement sa foundation, merong liquefaction, or loosening of the soil sa ilalim kaya may failure kaya po nagkaroon ng tilting if ever. I already sent a surveyor to determine the degree of tilting,” (There may be movement of foundation, liquefaction, or loosening of the soil under the building that’s why there was a failure and there was tilting), he said in a radio interview.
Liquefaction takes place when loosely packed, water-logged sediments at or near the ground surface lose their strength in response to strong ground shaking. It occurs beneath buildings and other structures which can cause major damage during earthquakes, United States Geological Survey said.
Legaspi also assured there was no damage to the adjacent building on which the EAC structure leaned.
On the other hand, the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) also recommended the administrators of the college to investigate the structural integrity of the school building.
According to city administrator Ericson Alcovendaz, they will not withdraw yet the occupancy permit it issued to EAC because the building kept its “structural integrity.”
“Only the designs were destroyed. That is why (Legaspi) is not recommending yet the withdrawal of EAC’s occupancy permit,” he said.
Meanwhile, EAC has announced in their Facebook page that classes on all levels will tentatively resume on April 29, 2019, Monday.
"Classes will tentatively resume on Monday, April 29, 2019, to give way for the checking and assessment of the EAC buildings," the post showed.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the safety officer of EAC has already been instructed to vacate and cease using the building due to the incident.