A training program to build safe and healthy adobe houses after the Pisco 2007 earthquake in Peru

On August 15 ^th, 2007, a 7.9 M _w earthquake occurred near Pisco, about 150 km south of Lima, the capital of Peru. Around 80 thousand houses were destroyed, 600 person died, and more than 300 thousand persons were affected. Most damaged and destroyed houses were made of adobe. Adobe houses are particularly vulnerable because they are unreinforced, the material is heavy, weak and brittle, and construction is performed informally without any technical assistance. This paper describes a joint project developed by the Catholic University of Peru with Care-Peru and other cooperation agencies to develop the capacities of some of the communities affected by the earthquake on the construction of healthy and earthquake-resistant adobe houses. The improved adobe houses include geomesh reinforcement, an external dry hole latrine, and an improved kitchen made with local materials. It is hoped that the training program contributed to improve the quality of life of many families in the areas affected by the earthquake. It is also expected that the encouraging results obtained will help disseminate the improved technologies for the construction of safe and healthy adobe houses in other seismic regions of the world.