Recovery and reconstruction of schools after M 7.3 Ezgeleh-Sarpole-Zahab earthquake of Nov. 2017; part I: Structural and nonstructural damages after the earthquake

Iran is one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the world and the resulting losses and casualties have had long-lasting effects on both its economy and citizens. As a vital structure in any community, schools are expected to maintain their initial functionality during a seismic event to guarantee the safety of students and act as an emergency center immediately following an earthquake. The Ezgeleh-Sarpole-Zahab earthquake in 2017 was one of the most destructive earthquakes in Iran. The present research reviewed the performance of 17 Iranian school buildings during the Ezgeleh earthquake and outlines the damage to structural and nonstructural components. Overall, masonry schools exhibited satisfactory performance during the Ezgeleh earthquake, but one-story schools built between 1975 and 1985 experienced noticeable damage and required expensive reconstruction. The damage was limited to nonstructural renovations for school buildings which adhered to national seismic regulations and building codes. The results of this research highlighted the need to determine the vulnerability of educational centers and formulate plans for their rehabilitation in order to minimize the level of risk to communities and prevent the damaging consequences of natural hazards. In part II, the recovery process and resiliency calculation of the school buildings will be discussed.