Nurlu, Head of AFAD Earthquake Department, stated that the disaster education received last year will be put into practice with exercises this year and said, “As an individual, it is useful not to expect everything from the public. We have to be ready as if there will be an earthquake at any moment," he said.
AFAD, which continues to work with stakeholder institutions in order to minimize the loss of life and property with its action plans and awareness-raising activities regarding what should be done before, during and after the earthquake, draws attention to this destructive force, which has caused great pain throughout history, also during Earthquake Week.
Head of Earthquake Department Murat Nurlu stated that the biggest earthquake in Turkey occurred in Erzincan in 1939, but they considered the 1999 Marmara Earthquake to be a milestone and said, “We are much more prepared for that earthquake.” he said.
Explaining that their work continues and that Turkey will be more prepared for earthquakes in the following years, Nurlu said that they achieved a 2012 percent success in the National Earthquake Strategy Action Plan (UDSEP) prepared by the AFAD Presidency in 65.
Nurlu said, “We have 2 years left. I am sure we will reach 95 percent. 13 institutions are in charge of this plan. The work of our 13 institutions with the relevant stakeholders continues very well.” used the phrases.
Stating that studies such as Turkey Earthquake Hazard Map, Building Earthquake Regulation, provincial health plans, volunteering system, Seismotectonic Map of Turkey, Active Fault Map were carried out within the scope of UDSEP, Nurlu pointed out the importance of this plan for earthquake strategy and reduction of earthquake damages.
Aware of Turkey's Risks
Emphasizing that the AFAD Presidency also makes plans for other disasters, especially earthquakes, Nurlu underlined that Turkey is aware of the risks.
“We know the danger. The response phase after the hazard has occurred. Our institutions are together, they are all working with us, the institutions know what to do, the provinces are ready.” Nurlu said that they are ready to organize in the provinces within the scope of the Turkey Disaster Response Plan.
Nurlu said, “After all, there will be earthquakes or other disasters. These are natural disasters, you cannot avoid them. The important thing is to reduce the damage, to minimize it, to work together with all non-governmental organizations and academicians, to minimize this damage, to act quickly, to reach the right information, to continue the life of the citizen like a normal citizen, not like a disaster survivor. Risk reduction plans have been prepared in 81 provinces and have been put into practice as of this year.” made its assessment.
Evacuation Practice to be Held in All Schools on Friday
Head of Earthquake Department, Murat Nurlu, stated that 2021 million people were trained to improve disaster awareness within the scope of the 60 Disaster Education Year, and said that this year was declared the year of the exercise upon the instruction of Minister Süleyman Soylu.
Nurlu continued:
“I have to apply the training I received in 2021. For example, I need to put into practice the 'collapse, grab, hold' gesture that must be done in the event of an earthquake, at school, at home, at the cinema. Their exercises. This week, during the earthquake week, an evacuation drill will be held at schools in all provinces at 11.30 am on Friday. We had this training last year. It will be held simultaneously in all schools this year. Different exercises will be held in different months. Fire extinguishing exercises will be held in apartments and public institutions. We will fulfill the training we received last year with practice this year, we will be much more conscious.”
We Have Europe's Second Largest Earthquake Observation Network
Nurlu, who gave information about the data measurement devices used before and located at the entrance of the Earthquake Monitoring and Evaluation Center, said that they used new technologies with the transition to the digital age.
Emphasizing that Turkey has the second largest earthquake monitoring network in Europe, Nurlu said, “Our number of stations, which was 1990-30 in the 40s, is now 1143. Europe's largest earthquake monitoring network is in Italy, and we come next. We are also in the 5th or 6th place in the world.” said.
Structural Health Monitoring System
Nurlu, who also introduced the building model showing how the Structural Health Monitoring System works, pointed out that the system in question is important in terms of reducing earthquake damages.
Stating that the values on different floors can be seen instantly during the earthquake through the accelerometers placed in the building, Nurlu said, “If I am observing this building during the earthquake, I can give information about whether this building will be used the next day with the data to be obtained from here.” he said.
Nurlu reminded that with the regulation issued in 2019, it is obligatory to install this system in buildings with a height of 30 floors and 105 meters that will receive a license as of this year, and stated that the system is important in terms of seeing whether critical buildings such as hospitals and schools will survive in the following years and which building will not be used.
Stating that the system is currently used in 8 buildings that have received licenses and in AFAD's building, Nurlu stated that they are working to put it in existing buildings.
43 Possible Tsunami Spots Detected
Nurlu also referred to their work against the tsunami risk that may occur after an earthquake in Turkey, which is surrounded by seas on three sides, and stated that while the active fault lines are evident in the Earthquake Hazard Map, the information on the faults that will produce earthquakes in the seas is not sufficient.
Emphasizing that the researches on active faults in the Aegean Region, Crete, Samos and Rhodes Islands, Antalya and the western parts of Cyprus need to be clarified especially in recent years, Nurlu said, “For this, various institutions and universities, especially the MTA General Directorate, work to reveal the active faults in the seas. we started.” he said.
Noting that 43 points that are likely to have a tsunami on the Turkish coasts were determined by the studies prepared by the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute and METU academicians, Nurlu noted that the mentioned points were also included in the disaster risk reduction plans.
“If there is a tsunami here, how far, how many meters will it move in, how high will the sea water reach? Information on this has been calculated for 43 points.” Nurlu stated that they have started a study to include warning systems for all coasts as if there will be a tsunami.
AFAD Emergency Mobile Application
Pointing out that the AFAD Emergency application can be used by installing it on smartphones with both Android and IOS operating systems, Nurlu explained that the citizens were directed to the assembly areas with the application, and the 112 emergency system was informed about the citizen who was under the rubble by message.
Saying that the application is important and that it should be on everyone's phones, Nurlu said, "May Allah not bless you to use it, but it will be of great benefit when you use it." said.
Advice to citizens
Stating that citizens have important duties to be prepared for earthquakes, Nurlu said:
“As an individual, it is useful not to expect everything from the public. He knows his public duties, his work is ready. What should I do as an individual? This country is an earthquake country. We have to be ready as if there will be an earthquake at any moment. In the event of an earthquake, 'collapse, grab, hold'… I have to plan with my family, we may not all be in the same place at the same time. I need to know the assembly area near my house. My building, my workplace may have been destroyed. They will find me there, after all. After the earthquake, everyone is hugging the phone. Let's prefer internet-based communication as much as possible. If the phones are cut off, you can't reach them anyway. Let's keep our disaster and emergency kit ready."
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