An earthquake in Istanbul may affect 200 thousand buildings and 3 million people

A Research Commission (of the Turkish Grand National Assembly) on measures to be taken against the earthquake listened to the work, projects and proposals carried out by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), Esenler Municipality and Avcılar Municipality within the framework of fighting the earthquake. IMB Deputy Secretary General said that 200 thousand buildings were expected to suffer moderate and severe damage in a possible earthquake in Istanbul, which could affect 3 million people.

In the studies conducted in the Avcılar region with the rapid scanning system, it was observed that the number of risky buildings detected earlier had increased by 4 times. The Deputy Secretary General said this number has increased to by two fold in the Silivri region also adding following: “We anticipate that the number of buildings that will be damaged will double with the most optimistic figure, in the survey work that we will conduct throughout Istanbul.”

Tayfun Kahraman, the head of IBB Earthquake Risk Management and Urban Improvement Department shared that there were 1.16 million buildings in Istanbul and a fifth of the buildings in Istanbul would become unusable in a possible earthquake and moreover some of them faced the risk of collapsing.”

Based on said survey, in case of a possible 7.5-magnitude earthquake scenario, 48 thousand buildings are expected to receive heavy damage the risk of collapse is also predicted in these buildings. Also, drinking water, waste water, natural gas points are also expected to suffer damage in a possible large earthquake.

Experts say, “According to the study, TL 120 billion of economic losses will occur due to the impact of the earthquake. Concerned magnitude along with the impact it will create later, is expected to be much greater, of course. Because there will be an earthquake that will greatly affect the Turkish economy.”