Earthquake did not shock relocators from Russia in Istanbul

– The owner of the apartment wrote to me that they had been told on the news: the wave will be even stronger, it’s better not to return to the house until night. Not to panic, just sharing, – the Russian woman reports in one of the chats of the city of Mersin.

– I was supposed to move from Alanya to Mersin tomorrow. Now I had to rent a hotel here. I’m not complaining, I’m just stating,” writes tourist Ekaterina.

There is no panic among Russians in Istanbul. Tourists and fellow citizens renting apartments in a million-plus city consult each other in chats on where it is more profitable to exchange dollars for lira, where to eat tasty and cheap, and how to get cashback on a transport card. Forwarded messages that one of these days “there will be a second wave” in Turkey are lost between the optimistic ones: “Next week I hope for warmth and sunshine” and the actual ones: “Tell me, where can I go with my child to see Istanbul in the evening? Maybe there is an observation deck?

The Russians who have settled in Turkey, who have become accustomed to shocking news in their homeland for a year, do not seem to be afraid even of earthquakes. So, at least, we were told by one of the IT specialists who left for Istanbul from the mobilization. Those who are just going to fly to Turkey are more scared.

– There were tickets for February 13, passed out of harm’s way. Why do we need such adventures? says Tatyana, a Muscovite, who is afraid that the threat will not disappear by the middle of the month.

– I sold an apartment in St. Petersburg and wanted to buy in Antalya. Now changed my mind. I am considering Karelia, – Russian Sergey admits.

And savvy Russian survival experts have already distributed instructions in Turkish chats for our tourists: how to prepare for an earthquake. It is necessary, they say, to go to bed every night in clothes and even in street shoes (so that, if anything, you don’t waste time on getting ready), and put a backpack with the necessary set next to it (documents, flashlight, power bank, dry rations, water, medicines). And if you have a car, you need to fill up a full tank so that if the house collapses, you can either drive away or sit out in a warm car – after all, it is winter, the temperature in Istanbul is slightly above zero.

Despite the fact that many seismologists predicted a powerful earthquake in Istanbul in the coming years (from 2022 to 2030), and now they are warning that tremors may repeat in the coming days, there is no panic and the city lives its own life: on the streets, despite the ongoing snow, chestnuts and corn are roasted, the streets are full of cars and motorcycles, buses and the subway run on schedule.

About how the townspeople relate to the constant threat of earthquakes, “MK” was told by a resident of Istanbul, Turkish journalist Abdurrahman Kamburoglu.

– In recent years, there were moments when we felt tremors here. But the 2019 earthquake was especially memorable. It happened during the day. Six points or a little less, but the jolts were pretty hard. Then the townspeople panicked, everyone was released from work, there was such chaos! There was light damage in the city, but there were no casualties, it cannot be compared with the 1999 earthquake. Then a lot of people died. Those who survived it have a trauma: any, even the most insignificant shocks cause panic. Those who have country houses can now take their families out of town.

– If an earthquake repeats, similar to where is the safest place to be? What type of house?

– It was after 1999 that new laws were adopted, new construction standards were introduced. Everyone who plans to build something must submit a project to the mayor’s office, and if it is approved, the company starts construction and the progress of work is monitored at all stages. Periodic checks are carried out. If the new building does not meet the standards, they do not issue a document for settlement, the owner will not be able to connect gas and water. The state even has the right to seal the building and not allow people to move in.

– And these rules are really observed?

– Basically, yes. There are, of course, cases of negligence, but under the law it is punishable as a criminal offense. I don’t think that big companies that have been on the market for decades will do this, but some, especially small companies, manage to get around these norms.

–– There was information that in Mersin the residents of the damaged house accuse developers of negligence.

– Yes, this can happen, and not only in Mersin, but also in other cities. People have the right to write a request to check the developer. The authorities must strictly monitor this, otherwise people will circumvent the norms. When something like this is revealed, everyone is punished to the fullest, but this does not alleviate the grief of those who have lost loved ones.

As Abdurrahman explained, in the first years after the 1999 earthquake, people who bought property in Turkey looked at the construction period: there was a great demand for new houses. However, then the tragedy began to be forgotten, people began to choose what is cheaper.

– And now you can see that in one block there are buildings that collapsed, and there are those that are still standing – despite the aftershocks. This suggests that during the construction of these buildings all norms were observed. They must withstand up to 9 points, he explains.

– And what about the inhabitants of old houses?

“They can go to the mayor’s office and order a seismic check of the house. However, not everyone goes for it, because, firstly, it costs money, and secondly, an inspection can show that the building needs to be strengthened or that it needs to be demolished and rebuilt altogether. Of course, this is unprofitable for apartment owners. Many houses, although outdated, still exist by the will of the owners, and this, in the end, turns into a disaster. In addition, we also need to look at the regions: for example, there are lines where faults pass, where tremors occur.

Will the owners of the destroyed houses receive compensation?

– When selling real estate, the owner must make earthquake insurance. This is also a new law introduced. Without this insurance, you will not be issued documents. But if over the next years the new owner does not sell the apartment and does not rent it out, the insurance can not be renewed. And, I must say, 90 percent do not insure their property. Unfortunately, people forget that there are natural disasters. If the building collapsed and the housing was insured, the state gives you an apartment – commensurate with the one you lost, at the market price.

On the evening of February 6, it became known that the famous Italian composer and pianist Ludovico Einaudi canceled his concerts in Istanbul (they were supposed to take place in the coming days). Other entertainment events will also be rescheduled.