Earthquake warning from Prof. Dr. Naci Görür: The country will be economically finished

Prof. Dr. Naci Görür spoke at the 'Earthquake-Resilient City Esenyurt' program, which he chairs. Stating that the only way to cope with earthquakes is to build earthquake-resilient places, Görür said the following:

"It is possible for me to make Esenyurt an earthquake-resilient city, but it cannot be done with the Esenyurt Municipality alone. The government and the IMM (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality) must also be behind us. By uniting with the public and the government, we can make this city earthquake-resilient, and this will serve as an example for all of Turkey."

During the meeting, Esenyurt Mayor Kemal Deniz Bozkurt gave a presentation on the work carried out regarding preparation for natural disasters since he took office, while Prof. Dr. Naci Görür discussed the potential effects of the expected earthquake in the Marmara region on Esenyurt.

"IT WILL HAVE A SERIOUS IMPACT"

Stating that we must be conscious as a public, Görür said, "If this earthquake occurs, it will seriously affect the districts on the Marmara coast. We must demand that politicians carry out earthquake-resilient city projects. To make Esenyurt an earthquake-resilient city, we, as the people of Esenyurt, must not accept anything that does not comply with zoning, occupancy permits, and regulations. Our request from you is to help us. Support the municipality in this effort for the safety of your family's lives."

TURKEY WILL BE BROUGHT TO ITS KNEES

Stating that they will also convince politicians to build earthquake-resilient residential areas, Görür concluded with the following words:

"Leave politics aside when looking at earthquakes, but demand that the people you vote for ensure earthquake resilience. As long as the Turkish nation does not do this, we cannot survive the 21st century as economically and politically independent. If we properly manage these 6 components we have identified—governance and management system, public, infrastructure, building stock, environment and ecosystem, and economy—we will survive an earthquake in Esenyurt with minimum loss. We will overcome this by standing in solidarity with each other. Otherwise, if an earthquake occurs in Marmara and the wheels of industry stop, the country will be economically finished. With the collapse of the Marmara Region, which accounts for 60 percent of Turkey's GDP, Turkey will be brought to its knees economically."