Those houses in Alanya need to be reviewed! They pose a risk
The Chairman of the Representative Board of the Chamber of Civil Engineers (İMO) in Alanya, Emrah Yılmaz, emphasized the importance of the building inspection system and provided detailed insights into the performance of inspected buildings during the February 6, 2023 earthquakes.
In an interview with Alanya Postası newspaper, Yılmaz evaluated the implementation process of the building inspection system across Turkey and its performance during the earthquake.
Yılmaz stated that the main purpose of the building inspection system is to ensure the resilience of structures against natural disasters such as earthquakes, fires, and floods, improve building safety, and prevent poor-quality construction.
He added: “Building inspections contribute to constructing safe structures by checking the project and construction phases. Analyses of the performance of inspected buildings during the February 6, 2023 earthquakes have demonstrated the success of the system.”
Performance of inspected buildings during earthquakes
According to the data, during the February 6, 2023 earthquakes, the collapse rate of buildings subject to inspection was remarkably low. In the provinces affected by the earthquake, the percentage of inspected buildings that collapsed was less than 0.5%.
This means that only one out of every 200 inspected buildings collapsed. Yılmaz explained: “Some of the inspected buildings that collapsed fell during the second earthquake, while others were damaged due to unauthorized modifications and deviations from the original project after obtaining occupancy permits.
Cases such as cutting columns and beams or damaging the load-bearing system are not under the responsibility of the building inspection system.”
Major issue: Pre-inspection buildings
Yılmaz stressed that buildings constructed before the implementation of the inspection system are one of Turkey’s major problems. He recalled the statement by the Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, on February 23, 2023: “98% of the collapsed buildings were constructed before 1999. This clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the building inspection system.”
“The biggest problem in Alanya is old buildings”
Yılmaz highlighted that the implementation of the building inspection system in Alanya since 2001 is reassuring. However, he noted: “The biggest problem in Alanya is buildings constructed before 2000.
Although not all of them are earthquake-prone, we recommend reviewing all of them. Buildings that are not earthquake-resistant should be reinforced or renewed through urban transformation programs.”
Encouraging urban transformation
Yılmaz emphasized the importance of urban transformation for residents: “In urban transformation projects, the state provides rental and loan support. We recommend that people consider urban transformation as an alternative rather than living in earthquake-prone buildings. Nothing is more important than human life.”
“Renovations should be done with engineering services”
Yılmaz stated that renovations in buildings should be carried out with engineering services: “Renovation work should not be left to the discretion of craftsmen. I don’t think residents of inspected buildings, where the load-bearing system has not been damaged after obtaining occupancy permits, have any reason to fear earthquakes.”
