With the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Earthquake Risk Reduction and Prevention Planning Project, which will be carried out jointly between Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), it is aimed to create a more earthquake-resistant Bursa.
Bursa Seismic Hazard Assessment and Soil Classification Project, which started within the scope of the protocol signed with TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center, the Metropolitan Municipality, which implemented the Bursa province Seismic Soil Hazard Assessment Projects by 'establishing the ground studies research unit' after the 1999 Marmara earthquake in Bursa, which is located in the first degree earthquake zone. Within the scope of the study, it determined the maximum earthquake magnitudes that may occur by 'detecting the separate segments of 15 stations and 9 faults'. As a result of the geophysical and drilling studies carried out within the scope of the project; 3D Bedrock Depth Map, 1/100.000 and 1/25.000 geological maps and Seismic Hazard Map were prepared. On the one hand, the Metropolitan Municipality, which constantly reduces the risky building stock with urban remodeling projects, on the other hand, continues its scientific studies 'in order to minimize damage and losses in a possible earthquake'.
Earthquake resistant Bursa
Bursa Metropolitan Municipality will finally carry out a joint project against earthquakes with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Within the scope of the project to be carried out between the Metropolitan Municipality Department of Earthquake Risk Management and Urban Improvement and JICA, areas with a high risk of damage in a possible earthquake will be determined. With the said study, besides the development of new projects for 'reducing earthquake damage', measures to be taken in the short, medium and long term will be determined. The hazard and risk assessment results will be revealed 42 months after the project, which is planned to last for 18 months. At the end of the project, the urban resilience plan will be announced. After the project is completed, the vulnerability analysis of the buildings will be done and maps will be prepared. In the scenario to be produced, building damage and loss of life will also be calculated on a neighborhood basis 'beside the earthquakes'. Recommendations for retrofitting and rebuilding vulnerable urban structures, roads, bridges, junction points and similar buildings will be announced. As a result of a possible earthquake, solutions will be announced for local evacuation areas, removal of rubble during emergency transportation, fire fighting, tent cities, first aid, debris removal and similar issues.
The cooperation protocol, which closely concerns the future of Bursa, was signed between Metropolitan Mayor Alinur Aktaş and JICA Turkey Office Head Yuko Tanaka. At the signing ceremony; JICA Turkey Office Vice President Yurika Saito, Metropolitan Municipality Secretary General Ulaş Akhan, Deputy Secretary General Gülten Kapıcıoğlu, Bursa Uludağ University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Adem Doğangün, Bursa Technical University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Beyhan Bayhan and Head of KOÜ Geophysics Department Prof. Dr. Şerif Barış was also present.
Japan's experiences matter
Drawing attention to the importance of the cooperation, Mayor Aktaş said, “With this study, urban resilience plan, urban development plan and disaster risk reduction plans will be prepared at the scale of 1/25000. Earthquake risk reduction is not a process that a single institution can undertake alone. A scientific advisory board consisting of academicians was formed in order to ensure a healthier progress of our project. As two earthquake countries, Japan and Turkey have been collaborating on disaster management for many years. Japan has significant experience in this regard. JICA has an important place among our international partners. Hopefully, we will transfer Japan's knowledge and experience in the field of disaster management to Bursa. God forbid, I hope that after the study, necessary studies will be put forward to reduce the destructive effects of a possible disaster.”
Yuko Tanaka, Head of JICA Turkey Office, stated that they are very happy to be in Bursa, the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World in 2022. Noting that they have added a new one to JICA's 'long years of cooperation with Bursa Metropolitan Municipality', Tanaka said, “I am honored to sign the protocol of the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Earthquake Risk Reduction and Prevention Planning Project. I believe that the project will contribute to making Bursa more resistant to disasters, urban transformation and friendship between the two countries.
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