Earthquake Survey: 77 Percent Don’t Know What to do at the Moment of Earthquake

* Photograph: AA

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Areda Survey research company conducted an earthquake survey in İstanbul with the participation of 1,603 people.

The survey has shown that while 47 percent of the participants are thinking of changing their GSM operators after they failed to provide services during and after the 5.8-magnitude that hit İstanbul on September 26.

The survey has also demonstrated the 77 percent of the participants do not know what to do at the moment of an earthquake.

According to the survey, while the Disaster and Emergency Authority (AFAD) is the most trusted institution for the İstanbulites who participated in the survey, 50.3 percent state that they trust the earthquake experts expressing opinion on television and social media.

Some highlights from the survey results are as follows:

8 percent find the precautions adequate

While 8 percent of the participants think that the precautions taken in the city for an earthquake are adequate, 21.5 percent are of the opinion that the precautions that they have personally taken are sufficient.

The trust of people in the houses where they live has decreased in August. While 34.9 percent expressed complete trust and 42 percent partial trust for their houses, the former rate has fallen to 27.1 percent and the latter has increased to 49.7 percent in August.

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62 percent did not check durability

While 43 percent indicate that they have not checked the durability of buildings for an earthquake, 26.8 percent answer this question with "Yes".

As for the rate of those who checked the durability of buildings while purchasing or renting a flat, 37.3 percent checked it, 62.7 percent did not.

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77 percent don't know what to do

77.4 percent of the participants indicate that they do not know what to do in the moment of earthquake. While 49.4 percent know the emergency assembly areas in their vicinity, 50.6 percent say that they do not.

AFAD trusted the most

To the question "Who do you think will help you first in the event of a possible earthquake?", the highest rate of participants answer as the AFAD.

While 50.6 percent express trust for the AFAD, 19.7 percent express support for municipalities and 17 percent for non-governmental organizations.

47 percent think of changing GSM operators

As a reason for the communication gap ensuing the İstanbul earthquake, 88.5 percent refer to a lack of infrastructure of GSM operators. 47 percent indicate that they are thinking of changing their GSM operators.

While 50.3 percent say that they trust earthquake specialists expressing opinion on TV and social media, the most frequently used sources of news after the earthquake are TV with 39.4 percent, social media with 30 percent, online news with 26.4 percent and immediate circle with 4 percent.

To the question "Whom did you think about first after the earthquake?", 55.3 percent of the participants answer, "My children". (TP/SD)