Furthermore, the buildings constructed with fragile local material could not withstand earthquakes.
In theory, the building can withstand an earthquake of 8.5 on the Richter Scale.
But that is to make sure a building will withstand high winds.
That the building withstood the heat was a success story, she said, but one of far too few in Goma.
Soil, rocks and the way the earthquake waves travel all affect how well a building withstands the tremors.
Over the years, the buildings withstood the floods of 1955 and survived a gas explosion in the 1960's.
Xiong wrote that the buildings could withstand a magnitude 8 earthquake.
We were always told by everyone, the experts, that these buildings could withstand direct hits from airplanes.
Angelique's first thought was to concede that they had been right about what the grand old building could withstand.
The original buildings withstood the Napier earthquake of 1931.