How Bamboo, Used in South America for Thousands of Years, Is Changing Earthquake-Resistant Construction

The port city of Manta, on Ecuador’s coast, was severely damaged when Ecuador was struck by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in April 2016. Its bustling Tarqui shopping district was completely devastated. The city streets were riddled with deep cracks that swallowed the brick and concrete remains of the buildings. Today, Manta still bears the marks of that earthquake’s legacy. A fish market stands beneath a bamboo pavilion by the sea in the region that was the earthquake’s epicenter. The tourist information center, fire station, and a restaurant, all built with bamboo, are located there. In fact, hundreds of traditional bamboo houses still stand in Manabí.