More than 8,000 people have already died in the earthquake disaster in Syria and Turkey, and rescuers are still searching for those buried. Freezing temperatures and rain make it difficult to search the rubble. But the extent of the destruction is not only due to the natural disaster – many construction errors have also led to countless buildings collapsing like houses of cards.
It was not the quakes themselves that killed so many people in the Turkish-Syrian border area, but collapsing buildings. “Following the devastating 1999 Izmit earthquake, the Turkish government passed legislation in 2004 mandating modern earthquake-resistant building standards,” said Joanna Faure Walker, director of the Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction at University College London.
Salty sea sand and cheap concrete
But with high levels of corruption in the Turkish construction sector, it is doubtful that everyone will comply. Investigations after the severe earthquake in 1999, which killed about 18,000 people, revealed serious construction defects: in many reinforced concrete beams of the approximately 20,000 buildings that collapsed at the time, too little concrete was found or the reinforcing iron was too thin – probably to save money. Or they used salty sea sand, which decomposed the iron.
A 7.5 percent earthquake tax was also introduced in 2004 to fund reconstruction and prepare the state for future earthquakes. But these funds were apparently not used for their intended purpose. Nevertheless, after an earthquake in 2011, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan again blamed shoddy construction work for the high number of fatalities: “The municipalities, contractors and construction managers must now realize that their negligence amounts to murder.”
The mid-May elections are likely to be Erdogan’s biggest challenge in his 20 years at the helm of Turkey. The earthquake in the Turkish-Syrian border area could reduce or increase Erdogan’s chances. According to experts, any misstep or accusation that not enough rescuers are available has a negative effect. However, analysts expect that Erdogan will be able to use the handling of the earthquake and the resulting reconstruction to his advantage.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
