Building structure causes casualties in Feb. 6 quake – Investigators
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The main factor contributing to the casualties in Feb.6, 2023 earthquakes that resulted in more than 50,000 deaths was the building stock predominantly consisting of reinforced concrete structures, according to an investigation report.
The Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT) conducted an investigation regarding the main cause of casualties in the devastating earthquakes that struck parts of Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023.
The EEFIT investigation, conducted by a team of 30 global experts from industry and universities, revealed that the building stock comprised mainly of reinforced concrete structures was the primary cause of casualties in the earthquakes.
The report further explained that the profit-driven mentality prevalent in the construction industry often leads to various shortcuts that affect the safety of structures.
The authors of the report underlined the importance of strengthening auditing and quality control mechanisms embedded in the legal and bureaucratic processes to ensure compliance with building codes.
“The legalisation of non-compliant buildings through amnesties cannot continue,” the authors noted.
According to the report even the newest building stock was found to have deficiencies, which indicate the urgent need for a comprehensive review of existing structures and infrastructure.
The investigation covered the scientific, engineering, and data aspects of the earthquakes, including geotechnics, the impact on structures and infrastructure, and the response and recovery efforts.
The earthquakes resulted in a significant loss of life, with over 50,000 fatalities and approximately 100,000 injuries, the report said.
According to the report, the damage to buildings and infrastructure was estimated to be around 84.1 billion US dollars for Turkey alone.
The investigation highlighted the vulnerability of an already fragile population, including migrants, to such natural disasters.