Learning lessons from earthquakes...

Since the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Istanbul on April 23, we have all been uneasy. After 4-5 days spent in debates over whether a larger one is coming or not, the discussions subsided as a post-earthquake classic, and the earthquake risk was once again shelved. Earthquake discussions remained limited to disagreements among scientists. We are struggling to even estimate the potential consequences of a possible destructive earthquake in the Marmara Region, which holds nearly 70% of Turkey's economy. It was possible to transform Istanbul into an earthquake-resistant city before an earthquake threat arrived, by learning from the 1999 Izmit earthquake or the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake. However, let alone making them earthquake-resistant, even assembly areas were opened for zoning. Now, people are left to their fate, not knowing where to go or what to do in the event of a possible earthquake.

If you say, "An earthquake is a natural disaster, what else can we do but surrender to fate?" let's look at what Chile did to succeed against the disadvantage of being in an earthquake zone and how it changed its fate;

In 1960, Chile was virtually turned upside down by a 9.5 magnitude earthquake. Five thousand people lost their lives. Learning from this small apocalypse, it renewed its building codes so that new buildings would be resistant to a magnitude nine earthquake. It immediately subjected old buildings to on-site transformation. It viewed zoning amnesties as corruption and wiped them off the books. By 2010, more than 500 people lost their lives in an 8.8 magnitude earthquake. However, this time, although 6,000 buildings were affected, only six were seriously damaged, and only four of them needed to be demolished. Chile continued to work. Furthermore, they completely renewed their earthquake response protocols after the 2010 earthquake. As a result of all the improvements and regulations made, by 2015, only 13 people lost their lives in an 8.3 magnitude earthquake that lasted 3 minutes. In other words, apart from Japan, which we constantly cite as an example, Chile also succeeded in its long-term struggle against earthquakes with its limited economic resources. By 2016, not a single person had lost their life in a 7.6 magnitude earthquake.

It is not just about renewing buildings, of course; early warning and search and rescue are also of vital importance when it comes to earthquakes. For example, in San Francisco, another earthquake zone, a tsunami alarm covering the entire Bay Area was issued in December 2024. With this extensive warning system, which also included students from nearby major universities like UC Berkeley and Stanford, citizens were advised to move away from the coasts and proceed to inland areas. Five minutes after a 7 magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of Northern California, the National Tsunami Warning Center sent a tsunami warning message to all mobile phones, televisions, and social media platforms. As it turned out, this tsunami did not occur, and the warning was withdrawn after a certain period. However, officials still preferred to "take precautions rather than be sorry." Look at the 8.8 magnitude earthquake Chile experienced in 2010; a significant portion of those who lost their lives were people on the beaches after the government refused to issue a tsunami warning. After this incident, four government officials were tried on charges of involuntary manslaughter. Therefore, using early warning systems effectively is of vital importance.

Therefore, it is not just about earthquake-resistant cities; how organized and professional the work is just before, during, and after the earthquake in search and rescue efforts, and how conscious the citizens are, are also very effective in reducing the destructive effects of earthquakes.

Unfortunately, we are among those who cannot learn lessons. It is understood from the devastating results of the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake that sufficient lessons were not learned from the 1999 Izmit earthquake. At least now, after the April 23 Istanbul earthquake, a different step can be taken by establishing a Ministry of Earthquake. One can learn by comparing with countries that fight against earthquakes. The industry in Marmara can be distributed to Anatolian provinces. A mobilization for on-site transformation can be declared. There is a lot of work to be done; the important thing is to have the intention to do it.