VAN - Although 10 years have passed since the Van earthquake, some families are still struggling to survive in the container. Civil engineer Mihai Atik said that despite the time that has passed, no measure has been taken.

 

It has been 10 years since the two major earthquakes in Van with a magnitude of 7.1 on October 23, 2011, and with a magnitude of 5.7 on November 9, 2011. While two major earthquakes caused great damage in the city center and its districts, according to official data, 644 citizens lost their lives and 966 people were freed from the wreckage with injuries. Despite the fact that 10 years have passed since the earthquake, in which great material and moral losses were experienced, no measures were taken in the city, which is on active fault lines, and citizens still living in containers are struggling for life.

 

‘Improvision is the cause of death and destruction’

 

Chamber of Civil Engineers (IMO) Van Branch Civil Engineer Mihai Atik pointed out that the city is located on geologically active fault lines and citizens are faced with new earthquakes at any moment. Emphasizing that precautions should be taken against a possible earthquake, Mihai noted that it is not the presence of an earthquake, but improvision against an earthquake that causes death and destruction.

 

‘The zoning planners are responsible for the improvision’

 

Noting that ten years have passed since the two great earthquakes, Mihai noted that no lesson has been learned from the great destruction experienced, and said, ‘’The responsible of the improvision is the person who plans the zoning in the city. As a chamber, we inspected all the zoning plans made in the city before. However, trustees who have been appointed to city municipalities for two periods are implementing any zoning plan without notifying us’’.

 

‘There are no measures for before and after the earthquake’

 

Mihai said that they have done many studies on a possible earthquake and that they have made necessary explanations to the relevant institutions. ‘’However, there are no measures regarding the reporting. In earthquake zones, action should be taken with an earthquake-priority program. Although we are in the earthquake zone, there is still no work on earthquake-proof planned construction, earthquake-resistant housing, work to be done during the earthquake, areas to gather, and measures to be taken afterward,’’ he said.

 

‘Unplanned, projectless buildings are licenced in the city’

 

Noting that the new and old buildings are intertwined in the city structure, Mihai pointed out that there are also structures that have completed their time. Noting that there are citizens living in these buildings, Mihai said, ‘’But there is still no work on this. Apart from this, the buildings constructed without a plan and without a project are licenced under the name of zoning. This is one of the main reasons that invite death in the event of an earthquake. We are faced with serious losses in a new earthquake in the city structure where geologically active fault lines are located’’.

 

‘Citizens live in containers which are begin to be rot’

 

On the other hand, despite the fact that ten years have passed, citizens live in the area, which was established on the empty land opposite the Van Regional Training and Research Hospital during the earthquake caused by financial impossibility, and only 6 containers remained behind. Citizens who stayed in the containers, which are begin to be rot due to winter conditions and summer heat for many years, told about their experiences.

 

‘I am cold’

 

One of the citizens, Adişah Demirhan, 75-year-old, meets her needs with water flowing from a pipe outside due to the water cut in the two-room container where she lives. Stating that she has been staying with a son for years, Adişah said her only request, ‘’I don’t want to spend one more winter in a container.’’ Stating that she has diabetes and blood pressure, Adişah told her experiences with the anxiety of spending another winter in the container as, ‘’I am cold. Sometimes I cannot even find bread to eat. I can only buy two breads in a day. I can buy breads with the help of the citizens. I want a house. My son is unemployed. I cannot make a living’’.

 

‘I will spend one more winter in container’

 

Pointing to the swelling on her neck, Adişah said, ‘’I have goiter. I am not getting proper treatment. During my stay in the container, I caught many diseases. Winter is ahead of us, and I will spend this winter here as well’’. Adişah, who also uses the fridge as a kitchen cabinet in the container she lives in, showed the other parts of the container and said, ‘’You see, the inside is dismantled like this’’.

 

‘The authorities should come and see the conditions we live in’

 

‘’We talk about our experiences over the years. But nothing was done,’’ Hasret Duran said, one of the earthquake victims. She continued, ‘’I go to the doctor every day. Officials come, look and go. I just want a house. If they had fear of God, they would have found a solution anyway. When the elections are approaching, they come and help with a package. Then we are forgotten in the same way again’’.

 

‘We caught a disease due to dampness’

 

Stating that there were seven people in the container she was in, Hasret said, ‘’My spouse is bedridden. He had Bağkur (insurance), which was also cut off. I cannot even meet my kitchen needs right now. They have money to spend for road construction. But they cannot build us a house. It’s winter ahead, we are already feel cold because of the cold. We will spend one more winter in the container. It’s damp inside. We got sick in these humid conditions’’.