An architect's admission last month that he falsified data relating to the strength of buildings he designed in order to cut costs has appalled a country, hitherto proud of its building standards, that is more vulnerable to big earthquakes than any other. So far, the government has declared that about 60 out of over 200 hotels and condominium complexes designed by Hidetsugu Aneha over the past few years were built using faked earthquake-resistance data; and the number keeps rising. Since these buildings, many of which have insufficient steel reinforcement in their support pillars, are at risk of collapsing in even a moderate earthquake, the government has ordered them pulled down and rebuilt. Residents have until mid-December to clear out.
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