ETEK calls for action on aging building stock and seismic safety in Cyprus

The Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK) has highlighted the urgent need to address the risks posed by aging infrastructure following recent seismic activity in Venezuela. ETEK officials Platonas Stylianou and Andreas Theodotou emphasized that while Cyprus lies in a moderately seismic region of the Eastern Mediterranean, it requires proactive building maintenance. Current building codes provide high seismic safety for structures built after 2012, while buildings from the 1994-2011 period show improved performance compared to those constructed before 1994. The chamber is advocating for the mandatory implementation of a Building Inspection Certificate to audit the structural health of older buildings, particularly those over 40 years old. Such an inventory would allow the state to draft a national seismic protection plan and apply for European funding. Additionally, ETEK has proposed fiscal incentives, including reduced VAT rates, to assist property owners with necessary seismic upgrades. Although major earthquakes in Cyprus are infrequent, with the last significant event occurring in 1996, experts warn that the risk of seismic activity remains a constant technical consideration.