Amnesty for illegal constructions in Turkey

The amnesty for illegal constructions in Turkey is at the root of the disaster caused by the two earthquakes of February 6, 2023.

After another devastating earthquake in 1999, a law was promulgated that imposes very strict anti-seismic criteria.

The rules require structures in earthquake-prone regions to use high-quality concrete, reinforced with steel bars. Also, the pillars and beams must be distributed in such a way that they can effectively absorb the impact of earthquakes.

However, these rules have been poorly enforced.

The quake destroyed thousands of buildings, including those that were said to have complied with earthquake regulations. A recent article published by the BBC showed images of several structures that had collapsed. All of them supposedly complied with construction standards.

AMNESTY OF ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTIONS IN TURKEY

Why did this situation come about? Because the government has periodically offered „construction amnesties”. In fact, some legal exemptions, against the payment of a fee, for those structures built without the necessary safety certificates.

These amnesties have been practiced since the 1960s, the most recent dating back to 2018.

Geologist Celal Sengor said earlier this year that adopting such amnesties for construction in a country crisscrossed by seismic faults amounts to a „crime”.

Ironically, just days before the devastating earthquake, a new draft law for zonal amnesties was awaiting approval in Turkey’s parliamentary Grand National Assembly.

The president of the Union of Chambers of Engineers and Urban Planners in Istanbul, Pelin Pinar Giritlioglu, said that almost 75,000 buildings in the earthquake-affected region have received such amnesties.

„In most places, the level of shaking was lower than the maximum (bearable), so we can conclude that of the thousands of buildings that collapsed, almost all of them did not correspond to any anti-seismic building code that reasonably should have existed,” explained Professor David Alexander, professor of emergency planning and management at University College London.

WHY STEEL IS IMPORTANT FOR EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT BUILDINGS

Steel structures are lightweight and flexible, allowing buildings to bend without sagging. In addition, it bears high weights due to the molecular structure of the alloy.

Structural steel has been used for many years in earthquake-resistant buildings. This is because these buildings can withstand the enormous pressures and movements subjected to earthquakes.

Known for its ductility, ability to deform significantly upon breakage, mild steel is very popular for skyscrapers and earthquake-resistant buildings.

Reinforced concrete is used together with structural steel to build buildings that are resistant to earthquakes and strong winds. Without rebar, reinforced concrete is prone to cracks and structural failures in buildings exposed to the stresses of strong wind and ground vibrations.

The disaster in Turkey occurred at a critical time for the country. The general elections will take place in May or June this year. Which means that the government is likely to make decisions, based on what will be viewed more favorably by the public, as it works to rebuild from the damage in the affected regions.