YEREVAN. – A low seismic risk was calculated when constructing most of the buildings in capital city Yerevan, but now, they are high risk in seismic terms.

Gurgen Namalyan, an official at the “Survey for Seismic Protection” Agency of Armenia, stated the above-said at a press conference on Thursday.

“The majority of buildings [in Yerevan] were built in the Soviet era, [and] for a 7- to 8-magnitude earthquake,” noted Namalyan. “But now, they need to calculate and construct the buildings for 9 magnitude.”

The official added that the seismic risk is high in Yerevan, and this due to the high population density and large number of buildings in the city.

On the other hand, in Gurgen Namalyan’s words, the new buildings are constructed commensurate to the seismic risk, and with technology that enables to enhance the quality of construction.