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Turkey has recently taken decisive action to crack down on the developers of buildings which collapsed during the recent earthquake in Izmir.Two of the buildings had failed safety inspections and their developers have been arrested on suspicion of causing deaths by negligence.
The authorities are now carrying out a thorough examination of the structural integrity of all the buildings affected by this earthquake. Many of the buildings had been given permits before the emanation of new regulations in 2018, but the government is now taking steps to ensure that all buildings in metropolitan areas are in compliance with the new rules.
The construction of buildings after 2018 are required to pass all safety requirements, including evaluations for seismic, wind, and snow forces. Developers need to have their buildings checked and approved by local technical engineering teams and have the right kind of materials with respect to the area’s geography.
The arrests follow reports of other buildings in Izmir not having sufficient safety measures to prevent destruction during an earthquake. The government is taking measures to ensure the same tragedy will not happen again.
Specialists are also planning to measure the seismic resistance of all buildings in the affected area to ensure their ability to withstand movements of the earth’s crust. In addition, water supply and waste lines have to be evaluated and checked if necessary.
The Turkish government has stated its determination to take steps to prevent such disasters in the future, and is sending a message to developers and building owners that non-compliance with safety regulations and negligence will not be tolerated.
