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Letter: Deathtrap buildings

Good news that the government proposes to assist financially with reconstruction ("Govt to give financial aid to quake victims", The Jakarta Post, Oct

The Jakarta Post
Tue, October 6, 2009

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Letter: Deathtrap buildings

G

ood news that the government proposes to assist financially with reconstruction ("Govt to give financial aid to quake victims", The Jakarta Post, Oct. 3), but it is now that the people so desperately need help - food, water, emergency repairs.

Why wait until November? Cash in hand today to buy necessities would help relieve the suffering. We can only hope that all levels of government are now fully cooperating and coordinating in an all-out effort to help the people of the Padang region in their time of need.

That is not the picture painted in the media, but I hope that nothing less than a superhuman effort is now underway. And let's hope the government's compensation offer is managed better than the Lapindo scandal. Now that Vice President Jusuf Kalla has put the reconstruction of Padang on the agenda there are three vital questions that must be asked and honestly answered.

Given the repeated warnings by seismologists that Padang was a high risk for a major earthquake, what did the three levels of government do to prepare for the inevitable disaster? For example, were public buildings like schools and hospitals constructed to earthquake-resistant standards?

Have we not learned anything from the repeated earthquakes along the south and west coasts of Java and Sumatra about the type and standard of building construction that contributes to the high death toll and building damage?

Will the government provide sound advice and assistance to the people to avoid rebuilding "deathtrap" buildings using the same flawed construction methods?

One thing that strikes you when you examine the photos of damaged modern buildings is the extent of clay brick construction with no steel reinforcement. Indeed, broken concrete pillars showed little or no reinforcement rods, let alone the heavy-duty rods that should be in use throughout earthquake-prone areas.

I have observed the construction of low-rise buildings elsewhere in Indonesia and have been appalled at the irresponsible and shoddy construction. A lot could be learned from the Japanese who long ago adapted their house construction methods to minimize the loss of life and building damage in the event of earthquakes. I suggest the Indonesian government should urgently call upon the help of Japanese advisors to offer some guidance in the rebuilding of Padang. One sobering thought which should guide us is that, as sure as night follows day, there will be future earthquakes right along the west coast of Sumatra, Padang included. No better time to plan for those eventualities than now when we see our mistakes revealed in a devastated city. Failing to plan the rebuilding of Padang is planning to fail. Again.

Nairdah
Sydney

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