Some experts and scientists say the increase in natural disasters is due to the increase in the average surface temperature. An increase in the average surface temperature would create more tornadic thunderstorms, and an increase in the ocean’s temperature. Therefore, there is a possible increase in the number of hurricanes per season, as well as an increase in their intensity. In 2005, four hurricanes reached category 5 intensity (the strongest), which is only the fourth time in history that more than two category 5 hurricanes have formed in a single season (1960, 1961, 2005, 2007). Once again, there has been an increase in a natural disaster. However, this time it is earthquakes. Since 2005, there have been ten earthquakes between magnitude 6.3 and 8.0.
On October 23, 2011, the Kandilli Observatory experienced a 3.8 magnitude earthquake in eastern Turkey. Sixteen minutes later, to add to the ten earthquakes since 2005, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake shook the same area. A native of Istanbul, Turkey, Karamursel Koeali tried to describe the events to reporters, “it shook for 15 seconds and we were 200km away from the epicenter. As I have experienced many quakes from my past, I knew it was too far [away] and a strong one.” Since the 7.2 earthquake, 500 aftershocks have rattled the area. The largest of the aftershocks measured a magnitude 5.4 on the Richter Scale. Turkey lies on one of the world’s most active fault zones. In 1999, two earthquakes, with a magnitude of 7 or higher, struck northwestern Turkey, killing 18,000 people. Experts say that if a 7.0 magnitude earthquake were to strike Istanbul, which is Turkey’s largest city, the death toll would easily be in the tens of thousands.
Image 1 - The tremendous earthquake caused unthinkable damage to hotels and apartment buildings
The massive 7.2 earthquake, architecturally, has changed the landscape of eastern Turkey. Since the earthquake, onsite engineers have been performing rapid assessments of the area’s buildings. Of the 16,448 buildings checked thus far, 2,208 were deemed uninhabitable and 3,373 were damaged but habitable. In addition, 2,000 buildings either suffered catastrophic structural failure or were completely toppled. The economic loss, on the building scale, could be as high as $260 million. This figure assumes that the building’s loss contributes to 40 – 50 percent of the total loss (assumes severities of 45- 50k for uninhabitable buildings, and 10k for habitable but damages buildings). Due to a high number of damaged buildings and being afraid to reenter them, thousands of people have spent two nights, in either cars or tents, in near-freezing winter conditions.
Image 2 - In the middle of a street, both cars and buildings become demolished unit
Like the buildings in the area, the residence of eastern Turkey has also been dramatically impacted. Authorities have estimated the death toll to be 432; however, they estimate to greatly increasing the number once rescue missions are completed. In addition to the death toll, 1,300 people have been injured. The following is a story from an article about three kids’ struggle to be rescued.
The boy, his sister and a cousin were trapped in the building’s third-floor stairway as they
tried to escape when the quake hit. A steel door fell over him.
“I fell on the ground face down. When I tried to move my head, it hit the door,” he said. “I tried to get out and was able to open a gap with my fists in the wall but could not move my body further. The wall crumbled quickly when I hit it.”
“We started shouting: Help! We’re here,” he said. “They found us a few hours later, they took me out about 8.5 hours later…. I was OK but felt very bad, lonely…. I still have a headache, but the doctor said I was fine.”
“They took me out last because I was in good shape and the door was protecting me. I was hearing stones falling on it,” the boy described.
Image 3 - Residence search through the rubble of what once was their homes
In the aftermath of the earthquake, hundreds of rescue teams, throughout Turkey, were rushed to the devastated areas, while the Turkish Red Crescent shipped tents, blankets, and goods. The numbers show that the Turkish Red Crescent supplied the victims with the following: 83 vehicles (50 of which were ambulances), 5 search dogs, 2,013 tents, 10,000 blankets, 2,292 water supplies, 5 mobile catering trucks, and 2 portable kitchens. Even though these numbers look promising to the survivors and the displaced individuals, the sent supplies were only enough to help half of the needing people. Therefore, half of the displaced victims were forced to either find another form of shelter or to sleep outside in the freezing winter weather. One resident, Baran Bungar, described the lack of assistance. “The aid is coming in but we are not getting it.. We need more police, soldiers, and supplies.” Due to the lack in supplies, the Milliyet newspaper reported that there have been fistfights in from of some aid trucks. To compact the issues further, only 15 percent of the area’s inhabitants have some form of insurance.
Text
Hacaoglu, S. (2011, October 25). Turkey Earthquake 2011: Thousands Spend
Second Night Outdoors. Retrieved October 22, 2011, from http://www.huffing
tonpost.com/2001/10/25/turkey-earthquake-2011_n_1030005
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