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Evaluation of seismic and tsunami resistance of potential shelters for vertical evacuation in case of a tsunami impact in manta and salinas, central coast of ecuador

Abstract:

The current study is a pioneer work of an improved technical risk assessment, where alternative solutions are proposed of how lives may be better saved during a potential tsunami impact in the coastal cities of Manta and Salinas in the central coast of Ecuador. As Ecuador has been already the target of several tsunamis during recorded history, further tsunami impacts are rather the rule than the exception. Due to short times between generation and impact of tsunamis and due to long distances to natural elevated safe sites, alternative solutions may be more required such as close-by buildings with certain heights. Those potential shelters as result of vertical evacuation needed to be evaluated for their seismic resistance as well as their resistance towards a tsunami. Both qualifications have been examined by the application of the Modified Italian Methodology in order to calculate the seismic vulnerability index (SVI) and subsequently also in order to determine the tsunami vulnerability index (TVI). In this respect we evaluated 18 buildings of such characteristics in Manta and further 99 in Salinas. Unfortunately, although many buildings stand the applied evaluations, due to the fact that almost all edifices are of private property, both entrance and stairs remain limited for the general public. Therefore, we propose that given regulations need to improve in order to allow the access to the general public during a tsunami emergency within an evacuation plan besides the implementation of an efficient early alert system.