THE EARTHQUAKE IS NOT DANGEROUS, BUT BUILDINGS ARE

Aysor.am
14.08.2009, 18:26

The earthquake itself is not dangerous, the buildings which crumble
are dangerous, and now the risks are increasing. It is the result
of urbanization, of constructing high buildings. Alvaro Antonyan,
the head of the National Seismic Protection Service of Armenia,
announced today at the press conference.

He introduced Vladimir Kossobokov, the leading specialist of
the International Institute of Earthquake Prediction Theory and
Mathematical Geophysics in Moscow, Russia, scientist, member of
the National Academy of Science, RF, and professor of geodezia and
geophysics, who came here to make predictions as well as to learn
about the seismic situation here.

"We discuss the works realized in this sphere. We work on the
prediction of the earthquakes and this means where, when and with
what strength earthquakes will happen. Of course, this question is
not solved yet in the world",-said Alvaro Antonyan.

At the moment the National Seismic Protection Service is analyzing the
current seismic regime. There are more than 150 stations in Armenia and
NKR, and each 10 days the seismic danger is being estimated, as well
as the service is dealing with operative and short-term predictions.

But the Russian Institute of Earthquake Prediction is dealing with
the prediction of disastrous, long-term, up to 5 years, earthquakes.

"We fix the dangerous points on the earth where earthquakes
are possible. This Institute was founded on the initiative of
Garbaychov. The statistics prove that the predictions are true and
can be used. I am a mathematician and when the question concerns
predictions, I tell that predictions are possible during the year
but a fixed day cannot be mentioned",-said Kossobokov and added that
real prediction should include day, time and strength, as Antonyan
had already said.

He says that such predictions are impossible today, as the earthquake
decides what direction to take.

A. Antonyan also talked about the condition of the equipments in the
service, part of them is modern, and the other part is being used
for more than 20-25 years.

"There are worn-out equipments, but now we cooperate with French and
we agreed on implementing in Vayq new stations, which are present
and very modern", – Mr. Antonyan informed.

Vladimir Kossobakov insured that Armenia is the only country that
after the collapse of USSR kept the quality of providing seismic
service. "There are many problems in neighboring countries that do
not exist in Armenia", – he said.