“Izmir Disaster Plan-Earthquake Preparedness and Resilience Studies” of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, which started Turkey's most comprehensive earthquake research and risk reduction projects, was shared with the public. Speaking at the meeting, Geologist Prof. Dr. Naci Görür said, “İzmir will take the lead in Turkey with this work. I hope that after this great Maraş earthquake, all our cities will do similar work as İzmir did.”
Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç SoyerSpeaking at the "İzmir Disaster Plan-Earthquake Preparedness and Resilience Studies" information meeting organized under the leadership of the Geologist Prof. Dr. Naci Görür made an assessment on Turkey's Seismicity and Earthquake Risk Management.
Stating that Izmir will set an example for Turkey with his work on earthquakes, Prof. Naci Görür said, “İzmir will take the lead in Turkey with this work. I hope that after this great Maraş earthquake, all our cities will do similar work as İzmir did. The study here is a microzonation study in general. In other words, it includes not only groundwork, but also geological and geophysical studies. In earthquake cities, whether the mayor or the governor is in the administration of the city, the future and development of the city cannot be made accurately and scientifically without micro-zoning data. We cannot create resilient cities because there is no micro-zoning-based management, and when a big earthquake comes, we experience the pain of today.”
Izmir should raise its head and set an example for Turkey
Underlining that İzmir has to set an example for Turkey in earthquake resistant city studies, Görür said, “İzmir has to be a province that creates earthquake resistant cities. It has to be an example for Turkey. A city with both its people and its understanding of management, with its view of science and its brightness, can only make this resistant city and show it to the Turkish society. İzmir should raise its head and stand out in a way that draws attention. Society needs it,” he said.
Let's not discuss faults anymore
Stating that the faults should not be discussed anymore, Prof. He sees, “I will no longer discuss faults in this country. The earthquake mechanism started 13 million years ago and will continue for millions of years. There is no need to make people geologists or to cause panic. We should put all our energies on resilient cities in order not to lose our lives in order not to be destroyed in the earthquake, leaving aside the fault discussions that are now a waste of time, perceiving it as real and with its politics and administrators. Countries such as California, Japan, Italy have achieved this. There are also earthquakes there. 5-10 people die and that happens by chance. Tens of thousands like us do not die. An earthquake is more important than politics, unemployment or terrorism. The items that politicians brought up until the earthquake are not being discussed at the moment. It's just about the earthquake. Why is this happening after the tens of thousands of us are gone? Isn't it a little heavy for us to live as if nothing happened? If human life is more important than anything else, the Turkish government should build fewer airports and fewer roads to ensure the safety of its citizens. Earthquake is not destiny, it can never be our destiny," he said.
Let's be firm
When a city is mentioned, Prof., who lists the components that make up the city. Dr. Naci Görür, “Management, public, infrastructure, building stock, environment, ecosystem, economy. A structure made up of these seven components forms the city. If we want to make the city resistant to earthquakes, we need to pay attention to these. These are known. Scientists here, scientists in Turkey can do this. We have money and power. As long as we are determined to do it," he said.
No need to rediscover America
Every mayor Tunç Soyer Stating that he may not have such an intellectual idea, Prof. Dr. Görer said, “If you do not educate the city administration about earthquakes, neither the people nor the city voluntarists will know what to do or which units to organize in the city. You will educate the people and you will have an earthquake resistant people. All of these will start from tomorrow. No need to rediscover America. We've been telling you what to do for years. The infrastructure should be an example of earthquake resistance starting from now, and detect the damage. Be prepared for possible scenarios. We can research the earthquake resistant building stock, but we know them. You will either strengthen it or bring it into urban transformation that will destroy it. You will not subject urban transformation to rent-based transformation. If there is destruction in the earthquake, millions of tons of earthquake debris will accumulate. If you fill the trucks and dispose of the waste, toxic substances get into the soil, water and come to your table through the food chain. Disposing of earthquake debris and waste cannot be done hastily. "Recycling is important," he said.
Anatolia takes you as an example
Stating that the economy played a very important role in the earthquake, Prof. Dr. Naci Görür concluded his speech as follows:
“İzmir is a city that holds the economy of Western Anatolia. Istanbul holds 60 percent of this country's economy. In an earthquake, the economic conditions stop. If the economy stops, the Marmara region will go bankrupt. Turkey kneels down. It loses not only its economy but also its political independence. We must be prepared for an earthquake in the economy. Think of a province that has lost all its teams, equipment, production, market and customers. I'm showing a mission to Izmir, I'm begging. Please let's create an earthquake resistant İzmir. Let's show Turkey. If you create it, Anatolia will take an example from you.”