Newsletters
Istanbul, Türkiye's largest metropolis, is facing a grim reality 25 years after the devastating Marmara Earthquake, which affected approximately 16 million people.
A recent Istanbul Planning Agency (IPA) report paints a concerning picture of the city's preparedness, indicating that in the event of a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, 20% of Istanbul’s buildings could suffer severe damage.
A satellite picture, taken on Aug.17, 1999, shows the area around the Turkish city of Golcuk hit by the devastating earthquake. The blue patches in the top left of the photo and the blur of red near the coastline are clouds. The tiny red dots in the built-up areas are all collapsed buildings. (Reuters Photo)
An elderly Istanbulian man searches for whatever he can rescue from the remains of his five-story apartment building which was flattened by a powerful earthquake in Istanbul early August 17, 1999 (Reuters Photo)
People inspect the wreckage of houses in Izmit, in the aftermath of an earthquake, measuring 7.8 Richter scale, that hit western Turkey in the early hours of August 17, 1999 (Reuters Photo)
The 1999 Marmara Earthquake was a turning point in Turkey's disaster management strategies, prompting the introduction of new regulations and policies. However, the IPA report criticizes the implementation of these measures.
An elderly woman sits in her earthquake-destroyed house in the town of Körfez near Izmit, August 18, 1999 (Reuters Photo)
1 min read
