'Red' alert for Istanbul! Critical warning from expert following 6.2 magnitude earthquake

The 11th National Concrete Congress, organized by the Istanbul and Erzurum branches of the TMMOB Chamber of Civil Engineers, has begun welcoming participants at the Atatürk University Nene Hatun Congress and Culture Center.

Speaking on the first day of the event, which opened with protocol speeches, TMMOB Chamber of Civil Engineers Board Chairman Nusret Suna stated that these congresses have been held uninterruptedly since 1989 and have reached their 36th year.

Within the scope of this year's main theme, "Concrete in the 21st Century," many topics will be brought to the agenda, ranging from the integration of digital technologies into concrete to quality control processes, and from artificial intelligence applications to sustainable concrete technologies.

'CONCRETE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MATERIAL FOR STRUCTURAL SAFETY'

Suna pointed out that concrete, the most fundamental material for structural safety, carries great importance both sectorally and nationally in terms of quality criteria, durability, and the use and prevalence of ready-mixed concrete. Emphasizing that the Marmara earthquakes demonstrated the importance of high-quality concrete through painful experiences, Suna said, "In a country where 93 percent of the land is under the threat of earthquakes and where public institution reports clearly state that a large portion of the building stock is not safe, it is essential to handle concrete, one of the most important materials in the building production process, more carefully and meticulously."

STRIKING ISTANBUL EARTHQUAKE WARNING

Providing information regarding the recent 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Istanbul, Suna stated, "Unfortunately, the subsequent discussions have been conducted primarily on where, when, and at what magnitude the earthquake might occur. We believe this discussion is being held on the wrong foundation. The seismicity of our country is a known fact. The vast majority of our land and population are located in earthquake-prone regions, and large earthquakes frequently occur in various parts of our country. We must focus on making our cities ready for these inevitable earthquakes."

'IZMIR AND ELAZIG ARE THE GREATEST EXAMPLES'

Reminding that the existing building stock in Turkey largely carries risks, Suna said, "It is painful that in Turkey, where medium and large-scale earthquakes occur frequently, similar results still emerge in every earthquake. The earthquakes that occur can cause loss of life and property that is disproportionate to the magnitude of the earthquake. The Izmir and Elazig earthquakes are the most recent examples of this."

Emphasizing that the transformation of risky structures in cities is a priority, Suna stated that similar risks should not be created in new buildings. Noting that ready-mixed concrete significantly increases building quality, Suna pointed out that, despite this, deficiencies in quality control persist in the sector.

'FAIR TRIAL IS ESSENTIAL'

Touching upon the legal processes initiated after the Kahramanmaras earthquakes, Suna emphasized that those responsible for the collapses must be tried fairly.

"We know that unless the real culprits are identified and punished as a result of a fair trial, our country will continue to experience similar pains and remain under the rubble," said Suna, adding, "However, unfortunately, in the ongoing judicial processes, certain professional groups have been declared scapegoats, and the presumption of innocence has been applied in reverse, with all our colleagues facing pre-trial detention and a form of preemptive punishment until their innocence is proven."