Gölcük district of Kocaeli province was the epicentre of the 1999 earthquake, and yet it caused massive damage and loss of life in the whole Marmara region. According to official data, 17 thousand and 480 people were killed and tens of thousands were severely injured. In Kocaeli province alone, 9 thousand and 477 people died, 9 thousand and 881 people were injured. 35 thousand and 180 houses, and 5 thousand and 770 business offices were either demolished or seriously damaged.
As the seismologists and scientists of other branches warn about a possible earthquake in İstanbul, the biggest metropolitan in the Marmara region, what kinds of precautions are being taken by the authorities? What is the current situation in İstanbul 18 years after the Marmara earthquake? Are there enough natural disaster assembly areas in the city?
"THERE ARE 2 MILLION HAZARDOUS BUILDINGS"
soL news portal interviewed Nusret Tuna, chairperson of Chamber of Civil Engineers İstanbul branch about the current situation in İstanbul.
"Although we commemorate the 1999 earthquake every year since the past 18 years, we are not ready for a new earthquake, especially in İstanbul. Some public buildings in İstanbul have been reinforced and this is a positive step. And yet, the ratio of public buildings is quite low compared to all other buildings in the city. The ministry of Environment and Urbanization say that around 7 million buildings are not ready for an earthquake around Turkey. 2 million of these are in İstanbul," Nusret Tuna told soL.
According to Tuna, the reinforcement of private buildings have totally become an issue of urban renewal which will take twenty years. In other words, İstanbul will be ready for an earthquake 20 years later.
Scientists had said that an earthquake was to expected within 30 years after the 1999 earthquake.
"The situation is not good considering this. In 2002, 'İstanbul earthquake disaster plan' was prepared with the cooperation of the İstanbul governorate, some chambers and universities. This plan had laid out some solutions. If those plans had been in effect since 2002, around 75 per cent of all buildings would be ready for an earthquake," said Tuna.
"SHOPPING MALLS CONSTRUCTED AT NATURAL DISASTER ASSEMBLY AREAS"
"After the 1999 earthquake, İstanbul city coordination council designated 470 natural disaster assembly areas in İstanbul. However, buildings and even shopping malls had been constructed at these areas. Emergency roads had been turned into parking lots. This clearly shows that local administrations value economic rent more than human life. There is only 77 natural disaster assembly areas have been left out of 470. The authorities say that there are more than a thousand natural disaster assembly areas, but those places include school gardens or mosque courtyards as well. They are not eligible for the status of natural disaster assembly areas. 18 million people are living in İstanbul. You cannot let those people stay at school gardens or mosque courtyards in case of a possible earthquake," Tuna added.
TKP: GOVERNMENT TROUBLING TO INCREASE THE MAGNITUDE OF A POSSIBLE EARTHQUAKE
The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) released a statement on the 18th anniversary of Marmara earthquake.
The statement said that although the duty of the political power and local administrations is to get ready for a possible earthquake rather than discussing whether it will happen or not, or its possible magnitude.
"The AKP government is troubling to increase loss of life and property in a possible earthquake, let alone getting prepared for it", the statement said. They started urban renewal projects for economic rent under the pretext of an earthquake, without considering the urban infrastructure noted the statement. What will increase our losses in a possible earthquake will be those practices, the statement said.
"When human life and money are positioned vis-a-vis, it is always the money that wins", said the statement, noting that thousands of people had lost their lives because of the rule of the money.
"Unless we overthrow the rule of the money, the earthquake will bring down both İstanbul and us," said the statement.
