ELAZIG GUNISIGI NEWSPAPER - January 2011
TURKEY'S IGNORED REALITY
According to the "Regulation on Buildings to be Constructed in Earthquake Zones" published in 2007 and still in effect, 66% of our land, 71% of our population, and 68% of our municipalities are located within the 1st and 2nd degree earthquake zones. When considering the 3rd and 4th degree earthquake zones, approximately 92% of our land is under earthquake threat.
Since the 1900s, earthquakes in our country have resulted in nearly 100,000 deaths, 250,000 injuries, and the destruction or significant damage of over 600,000 buildings.
The financial and emotional toll of earthquakes on our country is clear. Despite these undeniable facts, the necessary precautions have not been sufficiently taken, and the relevant authorities have not given the issue the attention it deserves, as clearly seen in their actions.
According to a report prepared by the Prime Ministry Project Implementation Unit in 2002, based on data from the year 2000, 62% of the housing units in Turkey have construction permits, while 38% do not. Additionally, while 33% of our buildings have occupancy permits, 67% do not.
In light of these facts, our approach to zoning and construction is unfortunately concerning. The state of the existing building stock, which lacks earthquake resistance, poses a significant problem.
It seems that the beginning of Turkey's zoning and construction crisis dates back to the 1950s, coinciding with the country's development period. The continuous implementation of squatter amnesties has legalized existing informal settlements, while also fostering the production of licensed buildings that violate zoning plans.
Authorities who fail to adequately address natural disasters have loudly acknowledged the issue after each disaster, but have failed to take the necessary steps to resolve it. Moreover, Turkey's external debt has continuously increased to address these shortcomings.
In the 1984 building census, there were 8 million households and 5 million buildings. By the year 2000, the number of households and buildings increased by more than 60%. This increase was not due to population growth or demand, but rather a result of urbanization and internal migration. Turkey is becoming increasingly urbanized, yet its population growth rate is declining.
Since 1900, more than 150 destructive earthquakes have occurred in Turkey. The 17 August 1999 earthquake, which will forever be etched in our memories, officially caused 17,479 deaths, 43,953 injuries, and significant damage to 66,441 homes. Other earthquakes such as the 1967 Adapazarı Earthquake, 1971 Bingöl Earthquake, 1983 Erzurum Earthquake, 1992 Erzincan Earthquake, 1995 Dinar Earthquake, 1998 Adana Ceyhan Earthquake, 1999 Gölcük and Düzce Earthquakes, and the 2003 Bingöl Earthquake have revealed the insufficient earthquake resistance of our existing building stock.
Not only for earthquakes but for all natural disasters, risk levels should be determined on a regional basis. Especially when it comes to earthquakes, serious efforts must be made regarding the building stock.
One of the principles of the European Union, which we frequently mention, is that it requires adherence to certain goals for sustainable urban development and renewal. These goals include:
- Increasing economic development and employment opportunities in towns and cities,
- Promoting equality and social participation in urban areas,
- Protecting and improving the urban environment,
- Contributing to good governance.
An earthquake is not just a problem for a province; it is a problem for our entire country. Therefore, it would be appropriate to say that local efforts alone will not reach a definitive solution. However, local initiatives are of great importance, as they provide guidance, especially since the problems of each region vary economically and socially.