A conference on earthquakes and their possible aftermath at the Citizens’ Council of the President was told yesterday that 75 percent of the 93,000 buildings in Ulaanbaatar will crumble in the event of a 7.0 magnitude quake occurs. Important landmarks like Government House, Opera House, Drama Theatre, Mongolian Telecom, Thermal Stations 3 and 4 have been identified as particularly vulnerable.

The prospect is not as farfetched as it may appear. Already this year, 270 tremors have been registered in the country, while the figure in 2009 was 508, indicating an increase in earthquake activity. The average magnitude has also increased by 1 point on the Richter scale. An earthquake warning can be given only a minute before it actually occurs, but sub-stations are being planned that could warn of a possible tremor from earlier indications.

President Ts.Elbegdorj, Vice PM M.Enkhbold, director of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Security and Foreign Policy Z.Enkhbold, first deputy mayor of UB B.Baatarzorig, Government Secretary of Ministry for Road, Tranportation and City Construction B.Bat-Erdene, Director of General Emergency Authority L.Amgalanbayar and researchers of Astronomy and Geophysics Institute attended the meeting.