Mobilization Plan
IMM President Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu made a detailed 13-part presentation on “Earthquake” at the Assembly meeting. İmamoğlu reminded that IMM had carried out various studies with many national and international institutions on earthquake preparedness, especially after the 1999 Marmara Earthquake, and said, “Determinations were made, predictions were listed, and implementation suggestions were developed. However, since all these studies were not/could not be implemented, Istanbul is still not prepared for the expected major earthquake. We cannot wait any longer.” Emphasizing that they have put the “IMM Earthquake Mobilization Plan” into action, İmamoğlu said, “We are rolling up our sleeves and starting a mobilization to produce projects that will be implemented with the support of all Istanbulites and to strengthen Istanbul.”

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu, in his presentation at the Assembly session, stated that AFAD and IMM received 5,253 notifications following the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred at a depth of 12.6 kilometers off the coast of the Marmara Sea in Silivri on September 26, causing great panic. İmamoğlu noted that the 5.8 magnitude was not a major earthquake but a minor one, but that as a result of examinations, 224 heavily damaged and 754 slightly damaged buildings were identified. İmamoğlu shared the information that according to studies prepared by TÜBİTAK MAM, Kandilli Observatory and IMM experts, the probability of an earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher occurring in the Marmara Sea in Istanbul within 30 years is 65 percent.

“THERE WILL BE AN ECONOMIC LOSS OF 120 BILLION TL”
Stating that Istanbul’s nighttime residential population is 15 million and its daytime population is 6 million, İmamoğlu noted that of the total 1 million 166 thousand buildings in the city, 255 thousand were constructed before 1980, 533 thousand were constructed between 1990-2000, and 376 thousand were constructed between 2000-2019. According to the “Earthquake and Damage Loss Estimation Study” conducted by the IMM Earthquake and Ground Investigation Directorate and Boğaziçi University in 2018, İmamoğlu also listed the economic, physical losses and damages in a possible devastating earthquake with a magnitude 7.5 in Istanbul. According to a devastating earthquake scenario with a magnitude 7.5, the number of buildings with very severe and severe damage in Istanbul will be 48 thousand, while the number of buildings with moderate and greater damage will be 194 thousand. According to these figures; 22.6 percent of buildings will collapse, 25 million tons of debris will be created, 30 percent of roads will be closed, 463 drinking water points, 1,045 wastewater points and 355 natural gas points will be damaged. A total of 120 billion TL in structural and non-structural economic losses will be experienced.

5 ARTICLES FOR MOBILIZATION
Emphasizing that according to the damage estimate studies, the earthquake has become the top priority of IMM, İmamoğlu said, “Instead of repairing the material and moral damage that will be experienced, the primary target will be to take precautions without further delay.”  İmamoğlu said that the “Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Earthquake Mobilization Plan” was prepared by evaluating under the following 5 headings:

– Disaster-focused urban transformation studies.

– Making the existing infrastructure and transportation network resilient to disasters.

– Seismic and earth science studies.

– Post-disaster assembly / shelter areas.

– Disaster-focused education and capacity development.