Comprehensive earthquake research and risk reduction projects carried out by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality in line with the goal of creating sustainable living spaces continue at full speed. An important part of these studies is Bayraklı The results of the building inventory study completed in Bornova districts have begun to be delivered to the relevant citizens. As a result of this study, in which the behavior of residential buildings in a possible earthquake was examined in detail using scientific methods, in Bornova 2 bin 830 ve Bayraklı'in 'm 14 the structure is more resistant to earthquake risk compared to other structures. should be evaluated as a priority It was detected. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality authorities are planning to house the residents of these buildings through companies authorized by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. by conducting advanced analysis, calls on everyone to take the necessary precautions against possible earthquake risks.
Comprehensive Earthquake Research for Izmir's Future
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality aims to complete a comprehensive Earthquake Master Plan in light of all these scientific data by simultaneously conducting building inventory, seismicity-tsunami research and microzonation studies. The areas most affected by the October 30, 2020 Izmir earthquake Bayraklı and the building inventory study initiated in Bornova was completed with the creation of building identity documents for approximately 100 thousand residential buildings. Thanks to these identity documents, critical information such as building permits, architectural projects and the nearest assembly area was provided quickly and directly. The field studies, in which approximately 200 civil engineers took part, BayraklıHe documented the current status of the buildings in detail for 200 days in and 300 days in Bornova.
Buildings Requiring Priority Assessment Identified
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Disaster Affairs Department Head Eylem Ulutaş Ayatar, reminding that İzmir is located in a risky region in terms of earthquakes, said, “There are over 950 thousand buildings. Bayraklı and we examined the building stock in Bornova. We completed the examination of approximately 100 thousand buildings. These examinations were carried out both observationally and in light of the information in the archives of the municipalities. Within the scope of the studies, 2 buildings in Bornova, BayraklıHe made an important warning by saying, “We have determined that 1014 buildings should be evaluated with more priority than other buildings. Further analysis needs to be done on these buildings.”
What Should Citizens Do Next? Here's the Roadmap to Follow
Stating that the results of the Metropolitan Municipality’s building inventory studies were officially notified to the district municipalities, Eylem Ulutaş Ayatar summarized the steps that citizens should follow in the following process: “District municipalities inform citizens living in those buildings about this issue. Apartment managements will also come together and decide on the results. The study we conducted was about prioritizing buildings. It is not exactly the same as the analysis specified in the Turkish Building Earthquake Regulation and Law No. 6306. But it is a study compatible with it. We ensured that the structures were prioritized in terms of the risks that the buildings carry. The analyses and observational findings we conducted primarily reveal a ranking within themselves. We cannot say ‘This building is risky or not’ within the scope of the study. There are defined methods in the legislation for us to be able to say this. Here, we determined which structure should be examined with more priority. As a result of the study, citizens need to have the relevant analyses done. Because our main guide in order to be able to talk about the safety of a structure is the Turkish Building Earthquake Regulation and Law No. 6306.”
The Process of Reinforcing or Reconstructing Buildings
In the detailed studies to be carried out within the scope of the Turkish Building Earthquake Regulation and Law No. 6306 on the Transformation of Areas Under Disaster Risk, concrete durability will be determined by taking core samples from buildings and comprehensive structural analyses will be carried out. As a result of these analyses, buildings will be legally defined as “risky” or “not risky”. The legal process will begin for structures identified as risky. Earthquake performance analyses to be carried out within the scope of the Turkish Building Earthquake Regulation will evaluate the risks these structures pose in terms of life safety in detail. After all these studies, it will become clear whether the structures should be strengthened or demolished and rebuilt.
Important Call from President Ayatar to Citizens
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Disaster Affairs Department Head Eylem Ulutaş Ayatar concluded his words as follows: “Our fellow citizens who have obtained the documents can apply to the relevant engineering offices and have a performance analysis done. There are also companies authorized by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. They need to go to these companies and have their structures analyzed within the scope of Law No. 6306. Our building stock is quite high. In addition to the radical changes in earthquake regulations, the fact that the building inspection system came into effect after a certain date reveals that our existing structures need to be subjected to advanced analysis. İzmir is a city located in the earthquake zone. Therefore, we need to make our structures safer against a possible earthquake risk. We expect our citizens to take into consideration the preliminary assessment studies we have conducted. In this way, we will have safer structures.”
