Mapping seismic risk awareness among construction stakeholders: The case of Iringa (Tanzania)

Abstract

To cope with earthquakes, resistant housing is crucial. Too often essential construction techniques are not applied in the most vulnerable contexts. Local construction stakeholders have a major responsibility in reducing vulnerability of the built environment. This exploratory study investigates current seismic risk awareness in the region of Iringa (Tanzania) and discusses its implications for disaster resilience policy and practice. This medium seismic hazard risk area presents an interesting case-study to map risk awareness of key construction stakeholders. Our analysis covers seismic risk maps, governmental policy documentation and stakeholder awareness data. Data collection across 17 villages includes a poll with 21 mason and 15 school principals, and 5 interviews with a district engineer, a contractor, an architect and two homeowners. This sample illustrates the severe lack of risk awareness in Iringa. Our evidence reveals limited risk awareness across all community-based stakeholders, including absent risk awareness of local masons. High risk awareness was found in national governmental policy documents. We conclude that local seismic risk awareness is influenced by: (i) absent structural building codes that consider seismic forces, (ii) lack of risk communication campaigns by the government or NGOs, (iii) and limited freedom of speech linked to natural hazards. Our findings advocate for enhancement of risk awareness by: (i) development of a Tanzanian structural building code with recommendations for seismic resistance, (ii) better risk communication strategies to bridge the knowledge gap between governmental departments and communities, and (iii) exclusion of natural hazards from the list of prohibited communication topics in legislation.