No rebar. Happened in Mexico City. Contractors paid off the inspectors during the building process. The places are corrupt and everyone is on the take. It’s no wonder the people keep sneaking back into this country after they’ve been deported.
The political situation down there. One columnist suggested we administer the country like MacArthur did in Japan. Set up democratic institutions. Even suggested Ron DeSantis for the job due to his experience with Florida disasters. Too rich for me. We’ll need him here.
As for administering the country it wouldn’t work. Japan had a thousand year history of institutions and structure where shame played a big part in areas such as thievery.
With the earthquake there is a big opportunity for us to steer it in the right direction without the gringo mentality regarding banana republics. Their oil is worth much more than bananas. Do away with the cocaine business.
I was involved in the design of a mid-rise hotel in the Fort Lauderdale area shortly after the Mexico City earthquake. The structural engineer had just gotten done doing forensic work after that earthquake. I know what may be the best mid-rise building to be in, in a hurricane, in Fort Lauderdale! That building is serious business structurally.
I just saw a short video on YouTube of the destruction.
The NO ReBar in the walls is the first thing I noticed.
No wonder so many concrete walls collapsed.