Osiris de León urges updating building codes in the face of seismic threat
Renowned geologist and seismic risk management expert, Osiris de León, has issued a strong warning regarding the vulnerability of structures in the Dominican Republic. Given the seismic activity recently recorded in the region, the specialist emphasizes that the country must take immediate preventive measures to fortify its infrastructure.
De León based his concern on the seismic events that occurred during 2026 in nations such as Venezuela and Colombia. These phenomena have made it evident that buildings that, in theory, met safety standards, suffered critical failures under the pressure of high-magnitude telluric movements.
Why could what happened to Venezuela happen to us in practice? What was it thinking? That its structures were earthquake-resistant.
Osiris de León, geologist.
Priorities in structural review
The expert pointed out that it is imperative to carry out a detailed technical survey on high-flow and socially relevant infrastructure. According to De León, supervision efforts must prioritize the following sectors:
- Hospitals and health centers.
- Educational centers.
- Temples and churches.
- Shopping malls.
- High-density residential complexes.
The geologist recalled a fundamental maxim of seismology: “Where there have been earthquakes in the past, there will be earthquakes in the future”. Therefore, he insists that, although nature is unpredictable, technical preparation is the most effective tool to mitigate human and economic tragedies.
Demolition as an extreme security measure
Regarding the possibility of demolishing structures after a seismic event, De León clarified that this is a technical decision that depends on exhaustive evaluations. Citing experiences in Venezuela, Colombia, and Turkey, he explained that when vital structural elements such as columns and beams suffer irreparable damage, demolition becomes the only way to safeguard the lives of citizens.
“One would not want an earthquake, but they happen, they are forces of nature. One would not want damage to structures, but it happens,” the specialist reflected.
Towards a more resilient construction system
For the expert, the Dominican Republic has a golden opportunity to learn from the seismic impacts recorded in the last decade, including the cases of Haiti (2010 and 2021), Puerto Rico (2020), and Ecuador (2016). The key, according to De León, is to integrate these lessons into a profound update of the Dominican building codes.
The geologist’s final recommendation is clear: prevention must cease to be an option and become a strict standard that ensures the country’s building system is capable of resisting the challenges imposed by seismic activity in the Caribbean.
