Abstract

CABALLERO, Alcides; GADEA, Moisés  and  ALMADA, Mirian. Effects of regional earthquakes on buildings in Asuncion - Paraguay. Rev. Soc. cient. Parag. [online]. 2025, vol.30, n.1, pp.70-82. ISSN 0379-9123.  https://doi.org/10.32480/rscp.2025.30.1.7082.

Paraguay experiences seismic activity of moderate to low magnitude. Additionally, the country is affected by regional earthquakes, whose impact is particularly notable in the buildings of Asunción. When seismic energy from earthquakes in Argentina or Chile reaches Paraguayan territory, some buildings undergo flexing due to a resonance effect, generating perceptible oscillations and causing alarm among the population. The analysis and the aftermaths of these events is the objective of this study. Through a review of press reports, official statements, data compiled by the seismology laboratory, and regional monitoring centers, some preliminary considerations have been made regarding the nature of tremors in the capital’s buildings. At least thirty reports have been recorded and plotted on a thematic map of Asunción’s geography. These movements are more pronounced in the upper levels of structures, where the perception of instability is greater. It is estimated that these effects will continue to occur randomly over time and with increasing frequency, considering the high seismic activity in northern Argentina and central-northern Chile, as well as the ongoing expansion of Asunción’s building infrastructure. So far, the response of buildings to regional earthquakes has been unpredictable due to the lack of specific studies on seismic resistance and site effects.

Keywords : City of Asuncion; Buildings, Earthquakes; Paraguay; Regional countries..

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