Seismic issues

A year ago, south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria were hit by two earthquakes of 7.8Mw and 7.5Mw (moment magnitude). It is estimated that some 50,000 people lost their lives, with approximately 100,000 injuries. Damage costs have been estimated to be $84.1bn for Turkey alone.

Within a week of the earthquakes, the Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT) – a joint venture between industry and universities – sent 30 global experts to assess the damage and suggest ways to reduce future vulnerabilities.

Its report, published on the Institution of Structural Engineers’ website, notes an alarming lack of seismic resilience and a building stock that is primarily composed of reinforced concrete structures (the main cause of casualties), which did not withstand the seismic pressures. In addition, the team noted a system where the drive for profit pushes players within the construction industry to take shortcuts. Among its 19 recommendations, the report suggests the auditing and quality control mechanisms embedded in the legal and bureaucratic processes should be strengthened to ensure code compliance.

Read the full report at bit.ly/ISE_EEFIT

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