# Turkey earthquake preparedness and building safety

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-earthquake-preparedness-and-building-safety
> Updated: 2026-08-18T02:12:44.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 3.

On the 27th anniversary of the August 17 Marmara earthquake, commemorations in Turkey have emphasized both disaster preparedness and the urgent need for urban renewal.

In Kocaeli, the Metropolitan Municipality held an exhibition featuring photographs of the 1999 Marmara earthquake alongside the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes to maintain public awareness. Preparedness efforts continue through municipal drills, including a large-scale evacuation simulation in Başakşehir involving over 3,000 citizens across 94 blocks, and ongoing emergency training in Tuzla.

Industry leaders are increasingly calling for accelerated structural improvements to address seismic risks. The President of the Turkish Contractors Association has emphasized the need to reduce economic and legal barriers to urban renewal. Additionally, Selami Gürel, President of the Turkish Structural Steel Association (TUCSA), has advocated for the use of structural steel, describing it as a “necessity” rather than a choice for building earthquake-resilient cities due to its strength and speed of application.

These developments follow long-standing concerns from the Chamber of Civil Engineers (IMO) regarding urban transformation efforts. While previous discussions focused on the approximately 6 million housing units considered at risk, critics have argued that renewal often prioritizes high-rent areas over structural reinforcement based on scientific risk assessments, potentially leaving much of the existing building stock vulnerable.

## Claims

- The 1999 Marmara earthquake resulted in 17,480 deaths and 43,953 injuries. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.4 and lasted 45 seconds. (single source)
- Tuzla Municipality conducted an earthquake preparedness drill at its main service building. (single source)
- The Tarhan Apartment in Eskişehir was the only building to collapse in that city during the earthquake. (single source)
- 33 people died in the collapse of the Tarhan Apartment in Eskişehir. (single source)
- Survivor Meral Şurabatır spent 20 hours under the rubble of the Tarhan Apartment. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-18: Turkey marks Marmara earthquake anniversary with drills and calls for urban renewal

Marking the 27th anniversary of the Marmara earthquake, Turkish municipalities held drills and exhibitions while industry leaders called for urgent urban transformation and the use of resilient steel structures

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/marmara-earthquake-anniversary-marked-by-drills-and-survivor-accounts

### 2026-08-14: Bursa Technical University hosts earthquake safety panel

Bursa Technical University held an earthquake panel marking the 27th anniversary of the 1999 Marmara earthquake, focusing on building safety, soil impact, and regional disaster risk reduction plans.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bursa-technical-university-hosts-earthquake-safety-panel

### 2026-08-13: Turkey earthquake safety: Experts call for better inspection and building inventories

Marking the 27th anniversary of the Marmara earthquake, experts call for improved concrete quality, stricter inspections, and a comprehensive scientific inventory of Turkey's millions of at-risk buildings.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-earthquake-safety-experts-call-for-better-inspection-and-building-inventories

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Cite as: Turkey earthquake preparedness and building safety. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-earthquake-preparedness-and-building-safety