Assessment of possible damages of residential buildings in the Fergana Valley of Uzbekistan

Abstract

The Fergana Valley is the most densely populated cross-border region of Central Asia; it is located in three states - Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The seismicity of this region suggests possible earthquakes up to 9-intensity degrees by the MSK macroseismic intensity scale (further “Scale”). About 10 million people live in the Uzbek part of the valley. A significant part of the population lives in residential dwellings built in the traditional style. Legislative measures nowadays do not include an obligation of individual developers to comply with the aseismic norms. It has an advisory character only. So, assessment of possible damages after different intensity seismic events is vital for measures developed by local authority and other responsible institutions. Based on data on the design features of individually built housing, predictive estimates of damage in the event of strong earthquakes are provided in this issue.