Things to remember on the 2nd anniversary of the February 6 Earthquake

On February 6, 2023, two major earthquakes of Mw 7.7 and Mw 7.6 occurred in Pazarcık and Elbistan districts of Kahramanmaraş, about 9 hours apart. The earthquakes caused over 50,000 casualties and according to official statements, more than 200,000 buildings in the region were severely damaged. “However, we seem to forget the cause of our suffering very quickly. What would happen if an earthquake of the same magnitude struck today? Have we learned enough lessons in the past two years?”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sepanta Naimi made evaluations on earthquake-resistant structures and risky building stock on the 2nd anniversary of the great disaster. Naimi drew attention to the need for inspection and reinforcement of old buildings in particular and said, “Have these buildings been reinforced or transformed? Even İstanbul, the economic heart of Türkiye, is not prepared for this. In recent days, more than 400 tremors have occurred in the Aegean Sea, especially in the region where Santorini Island is located. This is an indication that Kuşadası and Izmir Bay are also prone to major earthquakes. Measures need to be taken urgently.”

“One should not insist on living in risky buildings”

Emphasizing that earthquake is a fact of nature, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naimi stated that the disaster is caused by flimsy structures. He stated that the solution is not only in the competent authorities, but also citizens should take responsibility and take action: “We have to ensure the inspections of our buildings. Insisting on living in rotten buildings means putting our life safety at risk. Human life is priceless. As homeowners, we need to take responsibility and do what is necessary to prevent us from getting hurt again.”

Big cities and rural areas are also at risk

Naimi pointed out that the infrastructure and structures of big cities such as İstanbul and Izmir should be prepared for possible major earthquakes and said, “We have no time to lose for this. İstanbul and our cities on the North Anatolian Fault Line are under serious threat. The magnitude of a possible earthquake in İstanbul is predicted to be 7 and above, and the cost of our current situation could be very heavy.”

The same threat applies to Kahramanmaraş and the surrounding earthquake-stricken provinces. Just because an earthquake happened in the region, no one can guarantee that it will not happen again. Just as a second earthquake occurred unexpectedly after the first one, we may face other earthquakes with high acceleration in the same way. For this reason, lighter and stronger buildings should be preferred rather than high-rise buildings.

How should a safe building be?

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naimi from Altınbaş University underlined 5 basic elements for safe building construction:

- Solid ground: Buildings should be built on solid ground, geological analyzes should be made.

- Earthquake resistant materials: The quality of the materials used must not be compromised, concrete and iron must comply with standards.

- Engineering services: Buildings must be designed by specialized engineers.

- Inspection and maintenance: The construction process of buildings should be strictly supervised, and maintenance and controls should be carried out over time.

- Urban transformation: Risky buildings should be demolished and replaced with safe buildings.

Finally, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sepanta Naimi warned that both the authorities and citizens should fulfill their responsibilities without forgetting the reality of earthquakes. “Otherwise, it will not be possible to avoid reliving the same sufferings,” he said.