ELAZIG GUNISIGI NEWSPAPER - May 2010
7 YEARS AGO: MAY 1st
WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN THE BİNGÖL EARTHQUAKE!
On May 1st, there was another event that should have been on our country’s agenda. The Bingöl Earthquake of 2003, which claimed the lives of 177 of our citizens, is an event that should be remembered on its anniversary. Without keeping the issue of earthquakes on the agenda, it seems impossible to find solutions.
According to data from the Kandilli Observatory, the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that occurred on May 1st, 2003, at 03:27 in Bingöl, once again highlighted the realities Turkey faces regarding earthquakes and buildings. In the May 1st earthquake, 177 of our citizens lost their lives, 520 were injured, 1,602 buildings, 4,919 houses, and 599 workplaces were severely damaged, and 82 buildings were completely destroyed.
Bingöl and its surroundings are located on one of Turkey's most tectonically active regions. It is close to the intersection of the North Anatolian Fault Line and the East Anatolian Fault Line. This location of Bingöl also affects neighboring regions. All the earthquakes in Bingöl have been felt in Elazığ as well. In fact, not only were they felt, but structural damage also occurred.
Bingöl also experienced a major earthquake on May 22, 1971. In 1971, the provincial center, with a population of approximately 18,000, lost 294 lives. In 2003, the death toll in the provincial center was 70. In 1971, the majority of buildings in the city center were unengineered structures. In 2003, 11 buildings were destroyed in the first instance in the city center, which highlighted the importance of engineering services.
The 2003 Bingöl Earthquake was felt over a large area. Especially in the Bingöl Provincial Center, Çeltiksuyu, Sancak, Çimenli, Ortaçanak, Göltepesi, Haziran, Beyaztoprak, and Sudüğünü residential areas, massive damage occurred. As a result of the structural damages in these areas, many lives were lost, and many people were injured. 82 buildings were destroyed, and thousands of buildings suffered light, medium, and severe damage. If the budget spent by the state on the damaged structures (if these buildings had not been damaged in the earthquake) had been used for the economy of Bingöl, it would not be difficult to predict that there would have been significant economic vitality in the region.
The points mentioned so far may seem like the general earthquake expressions you often hear. However, I believe that to truly understand the real damage caused by the earthquake, one must either experience it or be with those who have. Immediately after the earthquake, the Structural Working Group of the Department of Civil Engineering at Fırat University formed a team and set off to inspect the damage on-site.
Our first stop was the epicenter of the earthquake. The earthquake occurred between the villages of Balıkçay Plateau, Hanoçayırı-Kurtuluş, and Sudüğünü Plateau. The region was approximately 50 km away from the Bingöl Provincial Center. With the help of the locals, we reached the focal point. The scene was unbelievable. A large area the size of a football field had been lifted and displaced by gas rising from the ground. It was not difficult to understand how the crack seen along the road had formed. We noticed that a woman from the village was unable to speak. We learned that her condition had occurred after the earthquake. She had felt a tremor and heard a loud noise when she woke up for the morning prayer. When she went outside, she saw fire rising from the ground (gas emission) and the grass had shifted. At that moment, her tongue was frozen, and she could no longer speak. I hope this condition was temporary. However, this situation clearly demonstrates the seriousness of the event and the magnitude and impact of the earthquake forces.
The Çeltiksuyu Primary School will never be erased from my memory. 200 of our little ones were trapped under the rubble, and 83 children and 1 teacher lost their lives. The emotional aspect of the event cannot be described in words. The families were receiving their lifeless children, whom they had sent to school for education, for their future, and to become useful citizens for their country. To prevent such painful and unforgettable events from happening again, the building stock with insufficient earthquake resistance must be renewed as soon as possible.
In the Bingöl city center, seeing hundreds of people who had lost a part of their loved ones made us spend most of our time helping rather than examining. Nearly all of the structural damage were deficiencies that had been known for years, mentioned in every earthquake report, but ignored. One of the most striking structures was one that had only completed its rough construction, with walls built but no plaster, and it had suffered severe damage. This was in 2003, and many critical rules in our Disaster Management Regulations had not been followed. Rest assured, the deficiencies of the buildings that were damaged in the earthquake are well known. These can only be addressed with building inspection. The establishment of building inspections according to Turkey’s conditions and its implementation in every province will prevent the increase of the building stock with insufficient earthquake resistance and will be the first step to prevent tragic outcomes.
On this sad anniversary, we once again extend our condolences and best wishes to the people of Bingöl. To prevent the sad scenes experienced in the 1971 and 2003 earthquakes from recurring, the citizens of Bingöl also have significant responsibilities. The Bingöl press must continually bring the issue of urban transformation to the agenda. Citizens should make demands from politicians on this issue, and these pressures should force politicians to promise urban transformation during election campaigns. Turkey has gained enough experience regarding earthquakes, and the solution to the problem lies in applying these experiences in practice.
Thinking about where the end of the road will lead is futile.
You are only responsible for thinking about the first step you will take.
The rest will come on its own... (Shams of Tabriz)
With the hope that the first steps, already known to be true, in earthquake and construction are taken...