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 an urgent call to Dominican authorities to review and update the current building codes in the country. This recommendation arises in the wake of recent structural damage observed in neighboring nations, where buildings that were considered safe collapsed in the face of the forces of nature.
De León pointed out that the seismic events recorded during 2026 in Venezuela and Colombia have served as a warning sign for the entire region. According to the expert, these phenomena demonstrate that even structures designed under previous regulations can be vulnerable to large-magnitude seismic movements.
Why in practice could what happened to Venezuela happen to us? What was it thinking? That its structures were earthquake-resistant.
Osiris de León, geologist and seismology expert.
Priority for critical infrastructure
The specialist emphasized that the country must conduct a comprehensive assessment of its real estate inventory, paying special attention to buildings used for mass gatherings and essential services. Among the structures that require priority review are:
- Hospitals and health centers.
- Educational centers.
- Religious temples.
- Shopping malls and recreation centers.
- High-density residential buildings.
De León recalled a fundamental maxim of geology: where there were earthquakes in the past, there will be earthquakes in the future. Therefore, he insists that, although earthquakes are inevitable events, technical preparation is the most effective tool for safeguarding lives.
Technical evaluation and the risk of demolition
Regarding the possibility of having to demolish buildings after an earthquake, the expert clarified that this is an extreme measure that is only taken after a rigorous technical analysis. As has recently occurred in nations such as Venezuela, Colombia, and Turkey, if a structure presents critical damage to vital elements such as columns and beams, demolition becomes the only way to avoid collapses that put the population at risk.
The geologist concluded that the Dominican Republic has valuable lessons from seismic events that occurred in Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Ecuador, in addition to the current cases of 2026. Leveraging these learnings to strengthen prevention mechanisms is, in his view, an indispensable step to guarantee the country’s long-term safety.
