Problems with Prefabricated Houses in Myanmar Earthquake
In the Myanmar earthquake, prefabricated houses have exposed serious problems such as poor seismic performance, significant structural safety hazards, and frequent daily maintenance issues.
Seismic performance is far lower than theoretical values: In the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, a large number of old prefabricated buildings collapsed, resulting in severe casualties. Prefabricated houses are prone to damage under external forces such as earthquakes, leading to the detachment of prefabricated panels or the imbalance of the overall structure. Their actual seismic performance is even lower than theoretical values. Some old prefabricated buildings may only be able to withstand earthquakes of magnitude 4 - 5. When faced with high-intensity earthquakes, their structures are extremely likely to collapse, failing to provide effective protection for occupants.
Prominent structural safety hazards: Some cheap hotels specifically catering to Chinese businessmen adopt beamless floor slab designs, eliminating load-bearing beams to cut costs. Their seismic coefficients are even lower than those of 30-year-old houses in Myanmar. For example, the eight-story Win Star Hotel collapsed like a cake crushed by a giant during the earthquake, with only 5 out of the 23 long-term Chinese jade merchants staying there escaping. This design flaw leaves the building lacking necessary support during earthquakes, causing the overall structure to rapidly lose stability and become a 'death trap'.
Frequent daily maintenance issues: Prefabricated houses also suffer from frequent cracks and water leakage, which has become a common occurrence. Cracks can weaken the overall strength of the walls and reduce the stability of the structure. The damp environment caused by water leakage is prone to breeding mold and bacteria, endangering the health of occupants. These problems are not only a nuisance in daily life but also hidden 'safety hazards' that may trigger more serious structural problems in the future, further reducing the seismic capacity of the houses.
