US-funded $155M Afghan defense center at risk from earthquakes

The Afghan military headquarters, which cost U.S. taxpayers $154.7 million, could be at risk in an earthquake, according to a report released Thursday by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

“Although the building generally met contract requirements and appears well built, we found some construction deficiencies that may have safety implications, such as improperly sized and improperly aligned building separation joints,” John Sopko wrote in a letter to the Pentagon accompanying the report.

"These deficiencies could compromise the building’s ability to withstand ground motion caused by seismic activity,” according to the report.

Inspections also revealed no bracing for items such as a fuel supply for a fire suppression pump.

“In a seismic event, the elevated 238-gallon diesel fuel tank could spill fuel across the pump room floor,” the report says. “The fuel would then leak into the rain water collection system, be directed to the wastewater treatment plant and ultimately discharged into the Kabul River.”

The five-story building was finished last year and includes a national command center, dining facilities, a 1,000-seat auditorium and a wastewater treatment plant, among other features.

Afghanistan had two earthquakes in late 2015. On Oct. 26, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck 153 miles north-northeast of Kabul. A 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit on Dec. 25 174 miles northeast of Kabul.  - Read More at thehill

US-funded $155M Afghan defense center at risk from earthquakes

Gen. Nicholson's task in Afghanistan