Project News

Department of Geology and Mines, the Ministry of Economy Affairs is expanding intensity meters nationwide

Department of Geology and Mines (DGM), Ministry of Economy Affair had a campaign from May 13th 2021 to expand intensity meter network, and completed the installation in 51 gewogs (Sub-Districts) of six Dzongkhags (Districts). The contents are eleven (11) gewogs in Punakha Dzong., fifteen (15) gewogs in Wangdue Dzong., ten (10) gewogs in Paro Dzong., six (6) gewogs in Haa Dzong., five (5) gewogs in Trongsa Dzong., and four (4) gewogs in Bumthang Dzong. The tour lasted about a month and was a long tour for DGM members. The members completed the target number of installations with a strong mind of mission to finish within the fiscal year (the end of June in the Bhutan fiscal year). Seismic intensity data can now be collected from 101 locations, including previously installed observation points. Considering the influence of corona, the installation of seismic intensity meters is planned for the new year (after July).

Installation of intensity meter at Daga gewog of Wangdue Dzongkha;
Photo courtesy of Department of Geology and Mines (DGM)

Teaching how to operate;
Photo courtesy of Department of Geology and Mines (DGM)

Map: Gewogs installed the meters (Green in this time, Yellow in the past)

Department of Culture (DoC) conducted damage survey caused by earthquake on 28 April 2021

From 18 May 2021, for around one week, members of the Department of Culture (DoC), Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs (MoHCA) carried out a damaged survey that was caused by an earthquake on 28th April 2021. The team was accompanied by the focal person for disaster management of Bumthang Dzongkhag administration. They visited 14 numbers of traditional buildings in three gewogs (subdistricts) of Bumthang dzongkhags (districts) to check their damage. The surveyed houses follow the typology of rammed earth, stone masonry in mud mortar, and adobe structures. In the survey they used a technical post-earthquake safety evaluation of buildings form to check the damage and took photos. These damage investigation data will be analysed and used for the repair of the buildings with priority orders. At this time the travel of the survey was limited to the central area of Bhutan, unfortunately, due to occurring COVID cases in the east edge of Bhutan. DoC collaborated with the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) and collected the damage data of the east area, where it seems to have got more damage. The members made a report for this survey at the end of June and it was shared in DOC. As this SATREPS project developed retrofitting methods for traditional buildings, it is expected that our methods will be applied to some of the damaged buildings after these investigations.

Damaged building in Chumey gewog;
Photo courtesy of Department of Culture (DOC)

DOC member surveying;
Photo courtesy of Department of Culture (DOC)