Samoa Observer Newspaper
Letter to the Editors


Sirs,

The cartoonist may well be right in his drawing of yesterday [Tuesday 13 May 2023 edition] when the father advises doctors and nurses to wear hard hats when inside the hospital.

The ceiling tiles are made from a compressed plaster material which is relatively heavy, is poorly fixed to the concrete floor and walls above and is highly likely to fall several metres when dislodged by a moderate earthquake.

This is just one of several non-structural items along with questionable reinforced concrete and masonry details which are a hazard to life in and around the buildings.

I respectfully request to be asked to contribute to the building situation in Samoa and make available my files.


M D Campbell
Retired Structural Engineer