ELAZIG GUNISIGI NEWSPAPER – February 2011
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SIVRICE?
The seismic activity in Sivrice has caused concern in Elazığ and surrounding provinces. On Thursday, February 3, 2011, at 17:27, an earthquake of magnitude 4.1 struck, with its epicenter in Sivrice. The good news was that there were no casualties.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of approximately 19 kilometers. It would be wrong to consider the earthquake's impact as being limited only to Elazığ or the center of Sivrice. The epicenter was 1,178 km from Dedeyoğlu Village, 2,198 km from Alıncık Village, 4,607 km from Kürk Village, and 4,702 km from Yedipınar Village.
Rural settlements are often significantly affected by earthquakes. Especially during the summer months, when the population of villages increases, the extent of the danger becomes more apparent.
When we examine the past seismic activity in the Sivrice region, it is notable that the areas of Adıyaman-Gerger, Malatya Pötürge, Maden, and Baskil have been quite active. It's worth noting that the statements made by scientists on this matter are quite clear: the high seismic activity in this region increases the risk of potential earthquakes.
The fact that this earthquake wasn’t severe provided us with a moment to breathe easy. Even with medium-sized earthquakes, we have unfortunately experienced significant losses. The inadequate seismic resilience of buildings has caused us to suffer large-scale damages.
The recent Başyurt Earthquake was a significant test for our city. The citizens who were affected by the earthquake received help from all quarters. The assistance ranged from financial donations to taking children to sporting events. These gestures are part of what makes us who we are, and they are a source of pride for our nation.
However, it is important that we occasionally conduct some self-criticism. We need to identify and express not only our strengths but also our weaknesses. Forgetting the past too quickly, failing to detect potential problems in advance, or even if they are detected, failing to take necessary precautions, or neglecting to implement the solutions that are available, has unfortunately become one of our significant weaknesses.
If local media is closely followed, the point I’m trying to make will become clearer. Only one piece of news about the earthquake was published in the media, and there was no further commentary or discussion on the matter.
In these cold winter days, we could have experienced significant suffering in Elazığ Center, Sivrice, and the surrounding villages. The fact that the earthquake did not cause major damage and merely reminded us of its presence allowed those aware of the situation to take a deep breath.
It’s been less than a year since the Başyurt Earthquake. Earthquake meetings are over, drills have concluded, and most importantly, the issue has fallen off the agenda. The real problem with earthquakes lies in buildings with inadequate seismic resilience, which turn these events into disasters. The solution to this issue lies in long-term, interdisciplinary efforts. Long-term solutions seem to be difficult for us, as projects are expected to start in the morning, finish by noon, and receive congratulations by evening.
So, what is the solution? First, urban transformation projects must be prioritized. Don’t only think about certain institutions—municipalities, as well as the Mufti’s Office and the Muhtar Association, are all directly involved in this issue. However, achieving coordination among these entities seems to be a difficult task.
As Albert Einstein once said: "Everyone has two options: either we are filled with love, or we are filled with fear." I hope we can come together and be filled with love.