Earthquake in Turkey
Oct 24th, 2011, 06:07 AM
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Earthquake in Turkey
There was a 7.2 quake in the east of the country yesterday.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15425268
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15425268
Oct 24th, 2011, 06:33 AM
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Very unfortunate for the people of that area. As you can see by the map included in the link, the impact was confined to eastern Turkey, which is also the area affected by the fighting between the Turks and the P.K.K. Things are quiet here on the Turquoise Coast (Kas).
Oct 24th, 2011, 07:13 AM
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Yes, it's far from the touristy areas but close to an area of unrest.
I agree it may well be too volatile for the Turkish government to accept outside aid.
It's poignant that in an area where earthquakes are all too frequent that the buildings aren't built to withstand them. The extent of tragedy could have been lessened by a following suitable building codes.
I agree it may well be too volatile for the Turkish government to accept outside aid.
It's poignant that in an area where earthquakes are all too frequent that the buildings aren't built to withstand them. The extent of tragedy could have been lessened by a following suitable building codes.
Oct 24th, 2011, 07:38 AM
#5
most of the residents of the region are too poor to follow building codes.
Many of the villages are mud and adobe.
The government buildings are the worst because there is too much stealing of materials, no control requirements and the practice of giving the tender to the lowest bidder. This, unfortunately, includes schools and hospitals also.
there are two major fault lines running through Eastern Turkey towards the West. This one culminates at Marmaris and Bodrum, after branching out (both resort towns)
It is possible that this earthquake will have released enough energy so that there will not be any more large ones on the same fault line for quite a few years to come. But it could also act as a trigger for further earthquakes.
Van is actually somewhat North of the main terrorist activity, and I prefer to think that the Turkish government will accept foreign aid ones the extent of the damage and loss is calculated.
Only 9% of the dwellings qualifying for compulsory earthquake insurance in the municipalities of the region have actually been insured.
Village dwellings do not qualify for the TCIP (Turkish Compulsory Insurance Pool) but material losses should be compensated by the government.
Fortunately, the weather is not too bad yet, but the cold spell will soon hit the area and they will probably face snow within a few weeks. Which will also mean the end of the terrorist activity, but cause majorn heating problems, since there is almost no wood in the area, and no forests.
Many of the villages are mud and adobe.
The government buildings are the worst because there is too much stealing of materials, no control requirements and the practice of giving the tender to the lowest bidder. This, unfortunately, includes schools and hospitals also.
there are two major fault lines running through Eastern Turkey towards the West. This one culminates at Marmaris and Bodrum, after branching out (both resort towns)
It is possible that this earthquake will have released enough energy so that there will not be any more large ones on the same fault line for quite a few years to come. But it could also act as a trigger for further earthquakes.
Van is actually somewhat North of the main terrorist activity, and I prefer to think that the Turkish government will accept foreign aid ones the extent of the damage and loss is calculated.
Only 9% of the dwellings qualifying for compulsory earthquake insurance in the municipalities of the region have actually been insured.
Village dwellings do not qualify for the TCIP (Turkish Compulsory Insurance Pool) but material losses should be compensated by the government.
Fortunately, the weather is not too bad yet, but the cold spell will soon hit the area and they will probably face snow within a few weeks. Which will also mean the end of the terrorist activity, but cause majorn heating problems, since there is almost no wood in the area, and no forests.
Oct 24th, 2011, 07:56 AM
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otherchelebi,
yes I realised that the residents are probably too poor to follow building codes but it says a student dormitory has collapsed and this is an example of the type of building that I would expect to be built to withstand an earthquake.
Sadly it seems from your information this would not be the case!
I hope the good weather continues and there are no further quakes to exacerbate this disaster.
Thanks for the update and further details about the area.
yes I realised that the residents are probably too poor to follow building codes but it says a student dormitory has collapsed and this is an example of the type of building that I would expect to be built to withstand an earthquake.
Sadly it seems from your information this would not be the case!
I hope the good weather continues and there are no further quakes to exacerbate this disaster.
Thanks for the update and further details about the area.
Oct 24th, 2011, 08:34 AM
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othercelebi: thanks for the greater details on this tragedy.
I always thought of Van in relation to Armenia, but nowadays, there are also Kurds there - apart from the religious conflicts in that area.
Guess neither the Red Cross nor the Red Crescent aidworkers are allowed in. Really do wish that aid could come with no religious nor political strings attached.
Best hopes and prayers for the region.
I always thought of Van in relation to Armenia, but nowadays, there are also Kurds there - apart from the religious conflicts in that area.
Guess neither the Red Cross nor the Red Crescent aidworkers are allowed in. Really do wish that aid could come with no religious nor political strings attached.
Best hopes and prayers for the region.
Oct 24th, 2011, 09:21 AM
#8
The red crescent is there in force, with tents and so on, as far as I have watched on TV.
Also there is no religious conflict in the area.
The residents of the area are mostly sunnite with some shiites, some alevites and some zoroastrians. As far as I know there are no Christians.
the conflict is ethnic and administrative/political.
The Turkish Republic, through necessity and/or desire followed a similar policy towards the people of the regions in eastern Turkey. The rural and mountaineous areas in the region were never totally controled by the Ottoman empire and were allowed to be run by Kurdish or Alevite or Shiite feudal lords.
When the republic tried to impose universal education, a tax system, non-religious judicial system, and tried to send administrators and civil servants, including doctors and teachers in addition to governors and security forces, there were a number of rebellions in the 1920s and 1930s, which were put down rather harshly.
the republic, believing it to be an empire still, exiled and banished people to other and much nicer parts of the country since they could not follow the old custom of exiling them to the Middle East and North Africa.
The only Christians left in the country were the Syrian Christians, residing in and around Mardin-Midyat and environs and after 1938 in Hatay. (Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox) in addition to the small Greek and Armenian minorities mostly in istanbul.
The Armenians had been exiled to the South before the Turkish republic was established and the large Greek and Turkish orthodox community was subject to both banishment and a huge exchange of populations between Grrece and the Balkans and Turkey.
The Turkish Republic became just another country rising from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire, with the founder trying to establish a national identity where non existed as well as the basis for a democracy and human rights and industrialization and education, in an area where there was no capital accumulation, no industry and only 7% of the population could read and write.
It was a success in the richer Western regions but just did not hold in the East, and so we have some major problems in the country exacerbated by the exiles of people of Eastern ethnicity to the West and also the opportunities of the West drawing a continuous stream of less educated work force from the Eastern provinces, but with increased ethnic identity issues, and a very high birth rate in the Eastern regions.
Also there is no religious conflict in the area.
The residents of the area are mostly sunnite with some shiites, some alevites and some zoroastrians. As far as I know there are no Christians.
the conflict is ethnic and administrative/political.
The Turkish Republic, through necessity and/or desire followed a similar policy towards the people of the regions in eastern Turkey. The rural and mountaineous areas in the region were never totally controled by the Ottoman empire and were allowed to be run by Kurdish or Alevite or Shiite feudal lords.
When the republic tried to impose universal education, a tax system, non-religious judicial system, and tried to send administrators and civil servants, including doctors and teachers in addition to governors and security forces, there were a number of rebellions in the 1920s and 1930s, which were put down rather harshly.
the republic, believing it to be an empire still, exiled and banished people to other and much nicer parts of the country since they could not follow the old custom of exiling them to the Middle East and North Africa.
The only Christians left in the country were the Syrian Christians, residing in and around Mardin-Midyat and environs and after 1938 in Hatay. (Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox) in addition to the small Greek and Armenian minorities mostly in istanbul.
The Armenians had been exiled to the South before the Turkish republic was established and the large Greek and Turkish orthodox community was subject to both banishment and a huge exchange of populations between Grrece and the Balkans and Turkey.
The Turkish Republic became just another country rising from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire, with the founder trying to establish a national identity where non existed as well as the basis for a democracy and human rights and industrialization and education, in an area where there was no capital accumulation, no industry and only 7% of the population could read and write.
It was a success in the richer Western regions but just did not hold in the East, and so we have some major problems in the country exacerbated by the exiles of people of Eastern ethnicity to the West and also the opportunities of the West drawing a continuous stream of less educated work force from the Eastern provinces, but with increased ethnic identity issues, and a very high birth rate in the Eastern regions.
Oct 24th, 2011, 09:22 AM
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othercelebi - is there anything out of area people can do to help with this tragedy? As a resident of San Francisco we have had our share of earthquakes and if there is a way for US citizens to be of help please let us know.
Prayers for all affected by this horrible event.
Prayers for all affected by this horrible event.
Oct 24th, 2011, 10:50 AM
#10
Thank you mztery.
it is too early to find out the best means of donating.
I just came back from an extensive coverage of the eathquake on TV.
- Russia has jumped in with two planes carrying two field hospitals and a search-rescue team.
- Azerbaijan sent 1000 blankets, food and two search-rescue teams.
- Iran sent twenty ambulances, medical supplies and a search-rescue team.
- people in all the major cities in turkey are contributing food stuffs, blankets and warm clothing.
- A tent town to house 4000 people has been set up and a warm dinner for 2000 was served tonight.
A major problem is that many people are not abandoning their collapsed or damaged houses to go to the tents, but just sitting watch in the street in font of their homes, against any possible theft or looting.
- Many buses were diverted from other routes to carry people who have family and relatives in the area. Mind you it is a 24 hour drive to Van from istanbul.
- All the flights to the area are full.
The opposition party controled municipalities are starting a program to take over the education of at least 1000 children (I do not know the details like age yet) in Istanbul with volunteer families housing them.
My wife and I started discussing whether we can handle something like this in terms of space and responsibility.
Would it be too large a culture shock for the kid to live with us for a school year?
Would it be a terrible thing for her (him) to leave all this to get back to her previous life after the year?
Would we in reality be partially adopting a kid for a long time?
These are all tough questions. It may possibly be better if we found a more conservative family which has a room and for us to pay them the expenses for taking up such a kid, or in fact two siblings. How much would it cost?
I will post the name, possibly web site and/or way of donating soon.
One possibility is "Turk Egitim Vakfi" and another one is "Cagdas Egitim Vakfi"
Both of these are pro-Western, non-religious educational foundations which provide scholarships to needy students (mostly girls) and the first of them has already set up in the area.
it is too early to find out the best means of donating.
I just came back from an extensive coverage of the eathquake on TV.
- Russia has jumped in with two planes carrying two field hospitals and a search-rescue team.
- Azerbaijan sent 1000 blankets, food and two search-rescue teams.
- Iran sent twenty ambulances, medical supplies and a search-rescue team.
- people in all the major cities in turkey are contributing food stuffs, blankets and warm clothing.
- A tent town to house 4000 people has been set up and a warm dinner for 2000 was served tonight.
A major problem is that many people are not abandoning their collapsed or damaged houses to go to the tents, but just sitting watch in the street in font of their homes, against any possible theft or looting.
- Many buses were diverted from other routes to carry people who have family and relatives in the area. Mind you it is a 24 hour drive to Van from istanbul.
- All the flights to the area are full.
The opposition party controled municipalities are starting a program to take over the education of at least 1000 children (I do not know the details like age yet) in Istanbul with volunteer families housing them.
My wife and I started discussing whether we can handle something like this in terms of space and responsibility.
Would it be too large a culture shock for the kid to live with us for a school year?
Would it be a terrible thing for her (him) to leave all this to get back to her previous life after the year?
Would we in reality be partially adopting a kid for a long time?
These are all tough questions. It may possibly be better if we found a more conservative family which has a room and for us to pay them the expenses for taking up such a kid, or in fact two siblings. How much would it cost?
I will post the name, possibly web site and/or way of donating soon.
One possibility is "Turk Egitim Vakfi" and another one is "Cagdas Egitim Vakfi"
Both of these are pro-Western, non-religious educational foundations which provide scholarships to needy students (mostly girls) and the first of them has already set up in the area.
Oct 24th, 2011, 12:37 PM
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a potential relief fund:
http://www.globalgiving.org/projects...recovery-fund/
people in the area are helping each other, too. Fetching relatives, friends from worst-hit areas and transferring car-loads of goods to Ercis, Van and neighbourhoods. High respect for these independent civilian actions.
Latest news from friends in Van - there still is need for further tents and shelters as rain and snow are expected in the coming days.
http://www.globalgiving.org/projects...recovery-fund/
people in the area are helping each other, too. Fetching relatives, friends from worst-hit areas and transferring car-loads of goods to Ercis, Van and neighbourhoods. High respect for these independent civilian actions.
Latest news from friends in Van - there still is need for further tents and shelters as rain and snow are expected in the coming days.
Oct 26th, 2011, 02:22 PM
#13
Update:
- A two week premature baby and mother were saved under the debris after 46 hours. She had breast fed the baby and kept her alive. They survived the collapsing roof and the girders because of the life triangle formed by a heavy sofa they had sheltered next to.
Only one school totally collapsed half hour after a PTA meeting. (the earthquake was on Sunday)
Currently about 500 dead and less than 2000 injured but nobody knows how many are missing
Rain and possibly snow is expected in a few days.
People are in trauma and the standing housing stock has not been checked properly yet. Also they have been experiencing too many aftershocks. They just do not want to go into buildings.
This means tents and other types of lodging for up to 600,000 people. The Turkish red crescent has 46,000 tents and is tendering for some hundreds of prefabricated housing. Israel has sent two planes of prefabs.
31 countries have promised monetary or other types of aid, in addition to that which has already arrived.
There is a shortage of blood in addition to tents and blankets.
There are many NGOs in the major cities collecting blankets, warm clothes, hygiene pads, baby formula and nappies, etc.
Unfortunately there are also stories of profiteers, who waylaid and hijacked some aid trucks and then sold the contents.
All concerts, stand up shows and fireworks displays for various occasions have been canceled by the artists or postponed for at least a week. There is a telethon with eleven major national TV stations participating this evening.
Unfortunately, the personal and racial memory of catastrophies are too short for lessons to be learned from them.
- A two week premature baby and mother were saved under the debris after 46 hours. She had breast fed the baby and kept her alive. They survived the collapsing roof and the girders because of the life triangle formed by a heavy sofa they had sheltered next to.
Only one school totally collapsed half hour after a PTA meeting. (the earthquake was on Sunday)
Currently about 500 dead and less than 2000 injured but nobody knows how many are missing
Rain and possibly snow is expected in a few days.
People are in trauma and the standing housing stock has not been checked properly yet. Also they have been experiencing too many aftershocks. They just do not want to go into buildings.
This means tents and other types of lodging for up to 600,000 people. The Turkish red crescent has 46,000 tents and is tendering for some hundreds of prefabricated housing. Israel has sent two planes of prefabs.
31 countries have promised monetary or other types of aid, in addition to that which has already arrived.
There is a shortage of blood in addition to tents and blankets.
There are many NGOs in the major cities collecting blankets, warm clothes, hygiene pads, baby formula and nappies, etc.
Unfortunately there are also stories of profiteers, who waylaid and hijacked some aid trucks and then sold the contents.
All concerts, stand up shows and fireworks displays for various occasions have been canceled by the artists or postponed for at least a week. There is a telethon with eleven major national TV stations participating this evening.
Unfortunately, the personal and racial memory of catastrophies are too short for lessons to be learned from them.
Oct 27th, 2011, 01:38 AM
#15
The following site appears to be bonafide and is connected to all the correct NGOs.
http://www.tpfund.org/en/aboutus.aspx
They have donation information and you can probably reach the NGOs like CYDD, AKUT, etc. from this site as well.
http://www.tpfund.org/en/aboutus.aspx
They have donation information and you can probably reach the NGOs like CYDD, AKUT, etc. from this site as well.
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