Chamber of engineers calls for mobilization against earthquake

* Photo: Chamber of Civil Engineers (İMO)

Click to read the article in Turkish

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake shook Turkey's eastern province of Elazığ on Sunday morning (December 28), announced the country's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), it was also felt in Malatya, Adıyaman, Urfa, Mardin, Batman and Diyarbakır provinces.

"No unfavorable situation has been detected following the earthquake," Elazığ Governor Erkaya Yırık said. Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu also announced that "there had been no negative situation so far."

"All of our teams are currently inspecting the area," said the Minister and added, "No loss of life or damage has been reported."

Later in the day, the AFAD said in a statement that at least 14 aftershocks of magnitudes ranging between 1.1 to 2.8 were reported.

It also added that power and communication lines, transportation and infrastructure in the city were not damaged or interrupted.

Another earthquake of magnitude 4.2 was also recorded on Sunday off the coast of Aegean province of Muğla, AFAD said.

'Measures have fallen short, we have lost time'

In the wake of this quake, Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) Chamber of Civil Engineers has released a statement.

Reminding the public and the authorities about the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that hit Sivrice district in Elazığ on January 24, 2020, the statement of the civil engineers' chamber read, "An earthquake occured on January 24, causing losses of life and property. We know that several buildings were damaged to varying degrees due to this earthquake."

Underlining that "the earthquake reality has frequently reminded people of its existence throughout 2020," the chamber has stressed that "while preventing an earthquake is not possible, it is still possible for people to minimize the damage to be caused by the earthquake."

"Even though the measures and steps to be taken have been indicated in several written documents since the 1999 Marmara Earthquake and these statements have been turned into decisions, the measures to minimize the damage to be caused by earthquakes have fallen short considerably and, moreover, they have been faced with setbacks, such as the zoning amnesty," the chamber has protested and briefly added:

"As we mention in our report that we have recently submitted to the Inquiry Commission of the Parliament (TBMM), the previously taken decisions must be put in practice and a mobilization must be declared against earthquakes. Stop acting as if measures were taken; enough time has already been lost. Losing even an hour cannot be tolerated any longer." (RT/SD)