Ahmet Ercan reveals the magnitude of the earthquake that will destroy Turkey! He gave the Fikirtepe example

The 6.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred off the coast of Silivri, Istanbul, on April 23 did not cause destruction, but it brought Turkey's earthquake reality back to the agenda. The destruction scenarios that the expected major earthquake in the Marmara region would create have reopened the debate on building stocks and urban transformation policies.

''IT IS NOT THE EARTHQUAKE, BUT SHODDY CONSTRUCTION THAT KILLS''

Geophysicist Prof. Dr. Övgün Ahmet Ercan joined these discussions with a statement on his social media account. Emphasizing that the real problem in Turkey is not the earthquake itself, but rather construction that is unprepared for earthquakes and contrary to nature, Ercan used the following expressions:

“If we start the examination here, we will solve the earthquake problem. If Turkey's problems are solved, the problems of nature's earthquakes will be solved automatically.”

AT WHAT MAGNITUDE DOES DESTRUCTION OCCUR?

Ercan stated that because structures in the US and Japan are more durable, destructive earthquakes begin after a magnitude of 7.4; whereas in Turkey, even 6.4 magnitude earthquakes can lead to destruction. He evaluated this situation as an "educational, legal, administrative, and moral weakness."

''NOT STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION, BUT URBAN PROFITEERING''

Stating that the projects carried out in Turkey under the name of "urban transformation" are far from being for the public good, Ercan expressed that a true urban transformation is about creating modern cities that are compatible with the environment for a healthy, happy society.

However, arguing that what is being done in practice is merely "structural transformation," Ercan stated that this transformation is only about tearing down buildings and erecting taller ones in their place. He expressed that these projects serve the interests of individuals and contractors, not the public interest.

THE FİKİRTEPE EXAMPLE

Defining the Fikirtepe project in Kadıköy, which has remained unfinished for years, as "not urban transformation, but urban profiteering," Prof. Dr. Ercan said that in this region, the public's land was bought for pennies and millions in rent were generated.

''Urban profiteers, who take homes and land from the poor for pennies and sell them for millions, have turned life into an ordeal by goring Istanbul. The earthquake, earthquake scientists, and Turkey's financial resources are being used."

THE PROBLEM IS NOT IN NATURE, BUT IN THE SYSTEM

Prof. Dr. Ercan's statements revealed how significant a risk factor moral and administrative problems are, alongside technical measures in earthquake preparedness. Reiterating his criticism that urban transformation is done for capital rather than for the people, Ercan emphasized that a solution is possible only with society-oriented policies, not rent-oriented ones.