The Turkish authorities called for the mobilization of all tourism forces before a strong earthquake in Istanbul, the cultural capital of the country and a popular destination for tourists. Disaster preparedness is at the fore. Officials and scientists are discussing protection and recovery strategies when the devastating element hits the city.
Despite numerous articles about the potential for earthquakes and destruction in Istanbul, the official response and plans to prevent catastrophic consequences have so far remained at the level of talk. At the same time, seismological experts call for serious measures to be taken urgently.
Previous significant earthquakes, such as the August 17, 1999 Marmara fault that struck Izmit, 90 km from Istanbul, and the 2023 East Anatolia fault have brought destruction and grief to 17 cities and provinces. However, the exact numbers of casualties and destruction remained shrouded in secrecy, perhaps to reduce public fear.
In this context, as reported by the Turkish portal Turizm Guncel, prominent Turkish and German scientists and experts confidently declare the future earthquake in Istanbul, only the dates differ. But their warnings are not always heard by the authorities. “When the tourism sector plays the game of three monkeys, attention to real threats takes a backseat. In this situation, immediate measures are needed,” the message read, as the deadlines for preparing for a terrible earthquake are getting shorter.
The experts proposed to borrow the experience of the February earthquake in the country and transfer it to Istanbul: analyze the strength of buildings and calculate fault lines, etc. A clear example of how it should be is the branch building of the Chamber of Civil Engineers in Kahramanmaras (TMMOB), seismologists said.
Plans for the future
Earthquake preparedness should include assessing the strength of buildings, maintaining the openness of transportation routes, and creating recovery plans for affected areas. An effective strategy should also involve the participation of highly skilled architects and engineers, as well as geologists and urban planners. The development of this plan should begin as soon as possible to minimize losses, experts are sure.
City of the Future
It is important to take into account the peculiarities of Istanbul and its urban structure when creating preventive measures. To prevent catastrophic consequences, it is necessary to introduce technical innovations and regularly check the strength of buildings. Work on these measures should begin immediately, as the earthquake in Istanbul is expected to be very powerful and deadly.
An essential aspect of earthquake preparedness is creating support models for people evacuating from danger zones. This support should include the possibility of continuing work and providing social and economic conditions for life. Taking advantage of this opportunity, it is possible to create new economic models and means of strengthening the city, experts claimed.
The way to safety
The cooperation of all stakeholders, including tourism professionals, is crucial. Checking the strength of hotels and buildings, demolishing infested buildings, and creating temporary safe zones for guests are just a few measures that can be taken. “It’s important to act because every minute counts and the time to prepare for an earthquake is now. Now is the time to act, not talk,” the author of the article emphasized. The listed preventive measures are a huge step to save the large number of locals and the huge number of tourists who visit Istanbul every day.
“A big earthquake in Istanbul happens once every 500 years and time has almost passed,” – this is the answer given by a Turkish geophysicist to the question of when there is a risk of a big earthquake in Istanbul. We will remind you that the largest – and at the same time one of the most popular among tourists – city in Turkey is located in the zone of seismic risk and the forecasts of local seismologists are disappointing. “After the last earthquake, it was predicted that the next one could be expected in thirty years. More than 20 of them have already passed — and we are getting closer,” the experts assured.