Publications appeared in the Turkish press about the intention of the Turkish authorities to minimize the consequences of a possible 7.5 magnitude earthquake in the Istanbul region. According to the Minister of Environment and Urbanization Mehmet Ozhaseki, work will start as early as next week, Aksam reported.
This decision was made at a meeting between the head of the department and representatives of the Istanbul administration. Turkish officials drew attention to the problems of earthquake resistance in housing. According to the minister, the metropolis is “one of the ten most risky cities in the world”: about a quarter of the existing 5.8 million buildings will not withstand a strong earthquake. Therefore, it was proposed to start demolition of the most dilapidated buildings and build new houses according to modern standards.
One of the reasons for increased attention to the problem was the published study of experts on the causes of devastating earthquakes in Turkey and forecasts for the near future. Scientists from the Celal Bayar University in the city of Manisa, one of the largest universities in the country, presented their findings.
According to their estimates, a series of strong tremors should be expected in the Sea of Marmara region. About 1 million people may be in the destruction zone. Scientific work, of course, does not imply specific dates.
However, Professor Nasi Göryur spoke about the possible catastrophic destruction of Istanbul in early March. Then he noted the particular vulnerability of the European part of the city. The reason is in geological formations and their characteristics.