ELAZIG GUNISIGI NEWSPAPER - April 2010
EARTHQUAKES AND THE TURKISH ECONOMY
Countries facing earthquake risk must never forget this reality for even a moment. Since the location, time, and intensity of earthquakes are unpredictable, precautions against their effects must be swift and solutions permanent. Turkey is facing a huge building stock with inadequate earthquake resistance. The most logical solution, urban transformation, is a widely discussed topic. Urban transformation refers to the redevelopment and reconstruction of cities, including infrastructure like sewage, drinking water, and gas networks, as well as superstructure such as housing and workplaces. In this article, the costs of urban transformation efforts and the potential costs of post-earthquake recovery efforts are addressed.
Is urban transformation necessary? Who knows when the next earthquake will occur? Even if it does, will it happen in Elazığ? Many such questions are looking for answers that are already "known"! ELAZIĞ IS CONSTANTLY SHAKING! I am not saying this, it is said by the Kandilli Observatory. The number of earthquakes in the last week, along with the details, is provided in the table below. The fact that we don't feel it doesn't mean there is no earthquake. If even one of these earthquakes is intense, it means we are facing an earthquake disaster. Before that day comes, necessary precautions must be taken for buildings with inadequate earthquake resistance.
In the urban transformation process, the gain is for both the state and the nation, not the loss. Multi-family houses should not be built in new settlements outside the city, but in existing settlements through new zoning regulations. In this way, buildings will be renewed, infrastructures will be organized, and streets will be widened. Furthermore, with zoning regulations to be made in existing residential areas, these regions can become attractive for the private sector as well.
It is not the number of floors, but the poor construction that kills in an earthquake. No one should worry about the earthquake safety of multi-story buildings that are designed according to standards and regulations and built under supervision. In previous earthquakes, no building collapsed just because it was multi-story. Especially in our old neighborhoods, site constructions that would be carried out by the private sector on an island basis would undoubtedly open the way for urban transformation.
As seen, urban transformation prevents the loss of both money and lives. However, if these precautions are not taken and we are caught by an earthquake, our history is already filled with examples. Earthquakes not only shake buildings but also the economy, and they destroy not only people but also the future of the country.
It may be useful to remind of the destructive earthquakes in our recent history. In the 1992 Erzincan Earthquake, more than 2,000 of our citizens lost their lives, and more than 10,000 buildings were damaged. In the 1998 Adana-Ceyhan Earthquake, 146 people died, and over 30,000 buildings were damaged. In the 1999 Kocaeli and 1999 Düzce Earthquakes, more than 20,000 people lost their lives, and over 100,000 buildings were damaged. According to the famous British economy newspaper Financial Times, the indirect macroeconomic loss of the Marmara Earthquakes was $40 billion. Considering these earthquake balances, can the 1994 and 2001 crises in Turkey be a coincidence?
The effects of an earthquake on the national economy are not limited to the loss of lives and property. When an earthquake disaster occurs, the healing process takes months, even years. The psychological troubles of the people who have experienced the earthquake may last a lifetime. As soon as the government begins to mobilize its resources for the earthquake-affected region, it has already sent out the invitation to an economic crisis.
The first thing done in an earthquake-affected area is to determine the disaster boundaries. Many institutions provide support for these efforts, and their existing work is disrupted. The first priority for the citizens who have been affected by the earthquake is meeting their nutritional needs. The next major problem is the need for housing. The financial burden of producing housing for citizens whose homes have been destroyed or severely damaged is considerable. In addition, buildings such as schools and hospitals that have been damaged need to be repaired or rebuilt immediately. While all these efforts are being planned, search and rescue operations for citizens trapped under rubble and rubble removal operations must continue at full speed.
Earthquakes also bring health problems. Especially due to water shortages and hygiene problems, infectious diseases may also emerge. Health services for citizens require additional financial resources. Here, the list of expenses that the state budget will record as expenditures is too long to write down.
As seen, the country’s problem is tied to the earthquake-building duo. The construction sector is prone to deficiencies, mistakes, and corruption. Solving these problems is difficult even during normal times. After an earthquake, these problems will grow and present greater challenges in urgent constructions. Therefore, shouldn’t the deficiencies regarding buildings be addressed before an earthquake? At this point, citizens also have important responsibilities. The urban transformation project should not be pushed off the agenda. In fact, under the pressure of citizens’ demands, politicians should be forced to promise urban transformation in election campaigns. Only in this way can we take meaningful steps toward a future free from the fear of earthquakes.
Urban transformation projects do not burden the economy; on the contrary, they contribute to it. Moreover, it is almost impossible to calculate the expenses that will be incurred after a potential earthquake disaster. The irrecoverable expenses caused by earthquakes return to our country as an economic crisis.
In light of everything discussed, let us now address today’s question: "Are we wealthy enough to ignore urban transformation efforts?"
