Turkish municipalities launch earthquake resilience initiatives

Municipalities in Turkey are implementing scientific measures to increase earthquake resilience in the Kocaeli and Balıkesir regions.

In Kocaeli, the Metropolitan Municipality has launched microzonation studies covering approximately 8,700 hectares in the Gebze and Darıca districts. The project involves extensive geological, geotechnical, and geophysical analysis, including thousands of meters of drilling and seismic measurements. The resulting data will be integrated into the Kocaeli Soil Data Bank to guide urban planning, zoning updates, and urban transformation efforts.

In Balıkesir, local authorities are focusing on risk assessment and education. The Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality completed a structural inventory in the Gönen district using LiDAR technology and expert engineering analysis to identify high-risk areas for urban renewal. Additionally, the municipality organized an expert panel to discuss seismic hazards and prevention strategies, featuring specialists from Balıkesir University, Istanbul Technical University, and TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center.