damaged by the earthquake, hampering rescue and
aid efforts.
The most extensive damage to buildings occurred
on the soft sedimentary plains, where the amplification of surface seismic waves contributed to their
collapse. But the survival of heavy water towers in
low-lying areas shows the value of sound construction
practices in averting disaster. The education and training of Haiti’s engineers and architects in engineering
guidelines for earthquake-resistant design and construction of structures is thus vital for sustainable
and safe reconstruction and rebuilding after the earthquake. An important issue is the need to introduce an
adequate building code and building inspectors empowered to enforce it. Some key ideas being discussed
in the rebuilding of Haiti include ensuring that a strip
of land 30–40 m wide is kept clear of buildings on
both sides of the Enriquillo–Plantain Garden fault;
preventing construction on hilly ground so that buildings do not fall on top of each other during an earthquake; and not using land prone to waterlogging,
which tends to liquefy when shaken during a major
earthquake