On the 3rd Anniversary of February 6: Disaster Reality and Resilient Cities

On the 3rd anniversary of the earthquakes that struck on February 6, 2023—described as the “disaster of the century”—Bornova Municipality organized a comprehensive panel titled “Disaster Reality and Resilient Cities” to address the reality of disasters in the light of scientific data. The panel, featuring experts and academics as speakers, was held at the Bornova Municipality Nevzat Kavalar Cultural Center with strong public participation.

The event began with a moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the earthquake. The panel was moderated by Sinancan Öziçer, Director of Disaster Affairs and Risk Management at Bornova Municipality.

“We must focus on the pre-disaster phase”

In his opening remarks, Moderator Sinancan Öziçer emphasized that Türkiye faces multiple disaster risks and stated:

“Especially in a country like ours, which is prone to earthquakes, we must be conscious and prepared for disasters. Earthquakes, floods, fires, and landslides pose serious risks. Both institutions and citizens need to have basic knowledge starting from childhood. We must focus not only on post-disaster response but also on the pre-disaster phase, particularly by implementing measures to reduce risks related to building stock. Inter-institutional solidarity and collective action are crucial. In this regard, İzmir stands as an exemplary and hopeful city.”

“We are in one of the most dangerous earthquake zones in the world”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Çırmık from Dokuz Eylül University, Department of Geophysical Engineering, explained Türkiye’s earthquake reality using scientific data:

“We are an earthquake-prone country, but unfortunately we only remember this reality from one earthquake to the next. We are located on the Alpine-Himalayan seismic belt, one of the most dangerous in the world. The February 6 earthquakes were among the most powerful earthquakes to occur in quick succession globally. Moreover, our earthquakes are shallow and occur on land. In Japan, earthquakes occur at depths of around 90 kilometers and mostly in the ocean. We are affected by both land and sea faults, which makes the situation far more dangerous. Without deviating from science and engineering, we must take precautions to minimize loss of life and property.”

“18 million people were affected; an area the size of Portugal is being rebuilt”

İzmir Provincial Director of Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD), Nazif Ekinci, presented striking figures highlighting the magnitude of the February 6 earthquakes:

“As a country, we mobilized entirely to heal the wounds after the disaster. The figures clearly explain why this event is called the ‘disaster of the century.’ Until February 6, August 17 was considered the largest disaster. Approximately 18 million people were affected by the February 6 earthquakes. Once reconstruction efforts are completed, an area the size of Portugal will have been rebuilt from scratch.”

Ekinci also underlined the difficulty of search and rescue operations:

“During the February 6 earthquake, 1.9 million professionals were needed, while the total number of professionals worldwide is currently around 750,000. This shows how challenging search and rescue operations are. The privacy of the rubble must be protected, and no one except professionals should enter the debris. There are currently 22 accredited teams in İzmir, and we aim to increase this number. Disasters have no politics; in İzmir, we work in solidarity with all institutions, including municipalities.”

“A disaster is not an event, but a result”

Civil Engineer and Member of the Disaster Commission of the Chamber of Civil Engineers, Fevzi Tavus, explained why earthquakes turn into disasters:

“Could earthquakes have remained merely natural events without turning into disasters? A disaster is not an event; it is a result. Unfortunately, in our country, natural events turn into disasters. If everyone had fulfilled their responsibilities—both public institutions and citizens—we could have emerged with far fewer losses. Nature does not forgive us if we build settlements in the wrong places. Buildings constructed according to the 1975 regulations have now reached the end of their lifespan.”

Tavus also shared engineering principles on how buildings should be constructed from a technical perspective.

“You cannot save lives without security”

Expert Dr. Ülkümen Rodoplu, Lecturer at Tınaztepe University, emphasized the vital importance of education and security in disaster management:

“Unlike the August 17 earthquake, during the Kahramanmaraş earthquake I did not see a single soldier or police officer in the disaster area. Without security, you cannot save lives because chaos emerges. Every year we look at the same fault maps, but we only look at them. Some of those rescued from the rubble lose their lives later, while others continue their lives with disabilities. We always deal with post-disaster recovery.”

Rodoplu stated that pre-disaster education significantly reduces both costs and loss of life:

“In Spain and Portugal, fires caused far less damage compared to us because residents in high-risk areas were educated, and fires were extinguished before they grew. This approach is much less costly. We must adopt the same mindset for earthquakes.”

During his presentation, Rodoplu highlighted the importance of an emergency earthquake kit and demonstrated first aid practices for fractures, dislocations, and bleeding, stating:

“Earthquake kits must definitely include materials to stop bleeding.”

Strong public interest and questions from citizens

Organized with the support of the Chamber of Geophysical Engineers İzmir Branch, the Chamber of Civil Engineers İzmir Branch, AFAD, and the Bornova City Council, the panel attracted significant public interest. At the end of the program, participants’ questions were answered by the experts.