Earthquake damage closes Anchorage school library, gym

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Damage from magnitude-7.1 earthquake in January has closed an Anchorage school library and gym.

The Romig Middle School gym was closed off after engineers assessed the structure of the roof and determined it was unsafe, The Alaska Dispatch News reports (https://bit.ly/1TZsJl6).

Ceiling damage closed the library the middle school shares with West High School.

West is the city’s oldest high school. Romig was built 10 years after West opened in 1953.

Anchorage School District spokeswoman Heather Marron wrote in a statement that engineers found ceiling tiles could fall if another earthquake hit.

“The building’s flexible lateral system creates problems for the rigid ceiling system during a seismic event,” Marron wrote.

ASD director of capital planning and construction Mike Nero says earthquake damage was found across the district, but Romig was the only one to see structural damage.

“The day of the earthquake we assembled at noon and started assessing all 93 district facilities,” Nero said.

Repair costs and a reopening date are unknown.

A proposed bond would fund high school improvements and a district seismic safety investigation. The bond requires approval from the Anchorage Assembly and voters.

“Sporting events, PE classes and community rentals will take place in alternate venues or will be rescheduled until further notice,” according to Marron’s statement.

Romig has 730 students enrolled, while West has 1,830.

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Information from: Alaska Dispatch News, https://www.adn.com