On February 6, at 04:17, eastern Turkey was struck by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake, triggered by the rupture of the East Anatolian Fault. Scientists have warned of a seismic gap in and around Kahramanmar province, so an earthquake was expected sooner or later in the area. The earthquake shook 10 provinces and affected an estimated 16 million people. Nine hours later, a second 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck. The extent of the damage was never anticipated or prepared for. At the time of writing, practitioners and emergency workers continue to report devastation and chaos.
Extensive research has been done on earthquakes and their impact on various sectors. in 1999 August. The Marmara earthquake has become an important event for disaster risk management in Turkey. And now in 2023 February. The East Anatolia earthquake will change and recalibrate how Turkey’s disaster risk management mitigates and prepares for future disasters. This virtual number Accidents brings together major journal reports on the science and policy of earthquake preparedness and response in Turkey. We made them free to share the experience and knowledge from Accidents archives.
Several articles reflect the 1999 earthquake lessons. Writing about the post-earthquake response, Rita Jalali reveals the role of NGOs and the private sector in supporting the needs of survivors and the impact of this involvement on state-civil society relations in the country. In an in-depth study, Ezgi Orhan examines business preparedness and the contribution of private companies to disaster management, with a special focus on Adapazarı. In their contribution, W. Randolph Daley, Adam Karpati, and Mani Sheik explore the post-disaster needs assessment process for displaced populations, addressing issues of shelter, medical care, water and sanitation, food, and access to information—all immediate challenges. now. Psychosocial needs are discussed in an article by Ebru Salcioglu, Metin Basoglu, and Maria Livanou that examines the prevalence of PTSD and comorbid depression after a disaster and the importance of ongoing mental health support for survivors. .
Ozlem Ozcevik and colleagues examine the challenges of sustainable urban regeneration in a pilot project study in Zeytinburnu Municipality, Istanbul. Rebekah A. Green examines the risks associated with illegal development and seismic vulnerability in Istanbul’s squatter areas, while Betül Sengezer and Ercan Koç critically analyze the role of urban planning in disaster mitigation and highlight the need to reform Turkey’s planning system. towards such an outcome. B. Burcak Başbuğ-Erkan and Ozlem Yilmaz explore the successes and failures of mandatory risk reduction by analyzing the Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Fund, a public-private partnership designed to reduce economic losses from disasters. The collection concludes with a comparative study of disaster recovery in Japan, Turkey, and Chile by Stephen Platt and Emily So. Using a case study approach and in-depth interviews with earthquake specialists, disaster managers, urban planners and local authorities, the article explores the tension between the need to rebuild quickly and the need to maximize opportunities for improvement and resilience to future shocks.
This editorial was first published in 2023. February 9 in Disasters: Earthquakes in Turkey: Reflections on Past Experience: Disasters (wiley.com)
