Critical 'transportation' warning for a possible Istanbul earthquake!

Yıldız Technical University (YTÜ) Civil Engineering Department Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Halit Özen made an assessment regarding the measures to be taken and what needs to be done in the field of transportation in the event of a possible earthquake in Istanbul.

Explaining that in the event of an earthquake, transportation mobility consists of journeys related to security, emergency aid and rescue due to evacuation, and finally, infrastructure services for damage assessment and repair, Özen emphasized that these journeys must be managed well and action must be taken to reduce the social and physical impact of the earthquake.

"THE SOLUTION IS THE USE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES"

Pointing out that it is important to carry out traffic management work in 3 stages, taking into account the pre-earthquake, during-earthquake, and post-earthquake periods, Özen spoke as follows:

"Since disaster laws will be in effect in the earthquake zone from the moment the earthquake occurs, people must first be informed about disaster laws. Public transportation vehicles should be used to prevent roads from becoming congested during personal travel. In this context, all drivers serving the public, such as taxi drivers, public transport drivers, those using rail systems, and drivers of vehicles working in infrastructure services, should be trained on how to act during an earthquake."

Drawing attention to the fact that a difficult-to-predict and complex traffic situation emerges for 3 to 7 days after an earthquake, Özen said, "Traffic management must be planned to ensure that search and rescue and emergency vehicles, as well as teams tasked with ensuring security, can reach their duty stations quickly. While doing this, it is of great importance to carry out activities to keep these routes open for ambulances to travel from their initial departure point to the disaster area and from the disaster area to the hospital, and similarly for fire trucks."

Describing the process regarding transportation mobility as a "recovery" and "improvement situation" and stating that people will begin to move away from their homes to safer areas during this process, Özen also expressed that after the assembly areas are determined, how transportation to these locations will be carried out and how evacuations will be performed from these points must be examined well.

"AT LEAST TWO OF THE 4 CORRIDORS MUST BE KEPT OPEN"

Halit Özen said, "In the event of a possible earthquake in Istanbul, at least two of the 4 corridors consisting of the coastal road, the D-100 highway, the TEM Highway, and the Northern Marmara Motorway in the east-west direction must be kept open."

Noting that authorities are working on measures to ensure these corridors remain open, Özen drew attention to the coastal road as the route that requires the most attention, saying, "Because it is very close to the sea. It is important that its designs are made by taking into account that it may not be usable during an earthquake due to the emergence of a tsunami effect."

Pointing out that there may be a situation where services cannot be received from sea transport vehicles, just like rail system vehicles, during an earthquake, Özen stated, "We will not be able to use the sea for at least a two or three-day period during an earthquake. We need to design ourselves accordingly, use the transportation system accordingly, and organize aid accordingly, knowing that we will not be using the sea during this process."