Earthquake risk on the agenda: 3 key figures preparing Istanbul for earthquakes are in prison
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Head of the Earthquake and Urban Transformation Department Tayfun Kahraman, and Head of the Zoning and Urbanization Department Gürkan Akgün, who played key roles in making Istanbul resilient against earthquakes, are currently imprisoned. A 6.2-magnitude earthquake has once again raised questions about Istanbul's state of preparedness.
The 6.2-magnitude earthquake in Istanbul has once again brought the question of how prepared Istanbul is for earthquakes to the agenda. Despite the reality that state institutions must coordinate with municipalities to take precautions against earthquakes, many experts on the subject within the IMM are being held in prison.
EARTHQUAKE DEPARTMENT HEAD TAYFUN KAHRAMAN IS IN PRISON
Tayfun Kahraman, one of the most important urban planners trained in Turkey, served as the Head of the IMM Earthquake Risk Management and Urban Improvement Department between 2019 and 2022. Tayfun Kahraman, who carried out the highest-level work possible with IMM resources to make Istanbul a resilient city, was sentenced to 18 years in prison on April 25, 2022, on the grounds of the 2013 Gezi Park protests. Tayfun Kahraman has been in prison for nearly 3 years.
IMM MAYOR EKREM İMAMOĞLU IS IN PRISON
The 5.8-magnitude earthquake that occurred on September 26, 2019, revealed the reality of earthquakes in Istanbul and made it mandatory to take rapid precautions. Under the leadership of IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, an Earthquake Workshop was held in Istanbul on December 2-3, 2019. At the workshop, where experts in their fields came together, scientific research was presented on many topics ranging from Istanbul's building stock to first aid and urban planning. IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who took responsibility for preparing Istanbul for earthquakes, was first detained and then arrested on March 19, 2025.
ZONING DEPARTMENT HEAD GÜRKAN AKGÜN IS IN PRISON
IMM Head of Zoning and Urbanization Department Gürkan Akgün had stated that the most important issue for which Istanbul needs to take precautions is earthquakes, and pointed out that, together with experts in the field, municipalities and the central government should work together to urgently establish an Earthquake Council. Gürkan Akgün, one of the figures leading the IMM's earthquake efforts, was detained and arrested during the March 19 IMM operation.
News Source: 12punto
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