Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, emphasizing the necessity of urban transformation, stated, "Developed societies foresee problems and solve them before they arise. Societies that have not completed their development process chase after problems."
Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin said, "There is a rule in health. If there's a problem, you treat it, you try to prevent its recurrence, and you eliminate the root causes." Head of the Department of Occupational Health and Safety Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan noted that after the 1999 earthquake, measures to be taken were discussed, but shopping malls and large residential complexes were built on designated assembly areas, and high-rise buildings continued to be constructed along the coastlines.
Rector's Advisor Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış, who was also the Mayor of Gölcük during the 1999 earthquake, said, "According to some, an earthquake of 7.6 or 7.7 magnitude 'is not even a disaster.' According to others, an earthquake of 5 or 6 magnitude is among the greatest disasters. It can even be called a cosmic disaster."
Measures highlighted on the anniversary of the February 6 earthquakes!
On the 1st anniversary of the Maraş earthquake, Üsküdar University held the "Academic Evaluation Symposium After the Kahramanmaraş Earthquake" at the Çarşı Campus Emirnebi 1 Conference Hall.
The opening speeches of the symposium were delivered by Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin, and Head of the Department of Occupational Health and Safety Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan.
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur delivered a speech titled "Safety Culture in Earthquakes" and Rector's Advisor Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış spoke on "Earthquakes and Civil Society."
Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör: "Developed societies foresee problems and solve them before they arise"
Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör stated that the development process of societies is not solely economic, adding that societies that have completed their development process are visionary societies and are prepared with solutions before problems emerge.
"Developed societies foresee problems and solve them before they arise. Societies that have not completed their development process chase after problems," said Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, noting that while discussions are held about what might happen during a potential Istanbul earthquake, no consensus has yet been reached on what needs to be done, and no measures have been taken.
Solutions to problems should be discussed in academic and scientific terms
Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör also pointed out that the necessary urban transformation has still not been achieved and stated that the pains of the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes are still not healed, and losses persist. She said, "Let's put aside government policies; those are high-level policy matters. But as we discuss these issues here, we need to talk about our current situation, what the problem is, and what academic and scientific solutions we can offer to these problems, and what contributions we can make."
Prof. Dr. Ertekin: "There is a rule in health. If there is a problem, you treat it..."
Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Dr. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin reminded that one year has passed since the February 6 earthquakes, with over 50,000 deaths and more than 100,000 injured, stating, "There is a rule in health. If there's a problem, you treat it, you try to prevent its recurrence, and you eliminate the root causes."
Prof. Dr. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin noted that malaria existed in the past, but swamps were drained through necessary actions, and the disease is no longer seen. He added, "Our country is a land of fault lines, an earthquake country. Since we cannot eliminate the fault lines, we must learn to live with them. Have we learned? It's debatable. A year has passed. Have we done much? Again, it's debatable."
Prof. Dr. Arif Aktuğ Ertekin also expressed that the brain wants to forget pain, saying, "I hope this meeting serves as the beginning of a process where what needs to be done will be carried out more rationally and in line with science."
Rüştü Uçan: "We didn't know what to do in the 1999 earthquake."
Head of the Department of Occupational Health and Safety Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan explained that he was in Bayramoğlu, a coastal town in Kocaeli, during the 1999 earthquake, and for weeks after, it was impossible to enter homes. He said, "We had never felt an earthquake in our lives until then. We didn't know what to do." Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan stated that after that earthquake, measures to be taken were discussed, but shopping malls and large residential complexes were built on designated assembly areas, and high-rise buildings continued to be constructed along the coastlines. He added, "Just one week after the 2023 earthquake, we went as a team to Antakya for dust measurements. I had the opportunity to examine the earthquake more closely."
Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur: "We have shelters, but they are filled with cheap detergents"
Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur, in his speech titled "Safety Culture in Earthquakes," addressed safety culture and pointed out the importance of civil society organization.
"I also blame citizens who only blame government officials regarding earthquakes," said Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur, asking, "What did you do? Did you establish an association to save your neighborhood? Every apartment building should be able to organize for earthquakes. We have shelters, but they are filled with cheap detergents..."
Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur stated that the first 72 hours are said to be very important in an earthquake. He said, "In healthcare, the first 6 hours are declared the 'Golden Hour.' People you cannot rescue from under the rubble within 6 hours will either live with kidney disease or have a disabled arm..."
Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur noted that every neighborhood and every apartment building should be organized, stating, "As an individual, you are not ready; why do you blame your government? We, as educators, have also neglected our duty to educate society."
Prof. Dr. Sur: "Learning from mistakes is important."
Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur emphasized the importance of creating a safety culture, explaining that it is unknown whether society wants safe buildings or not, and that citizens' ignorance must be eradicated through comprehensive development.
Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur also stressed the importance of learning from mistakes, adding that good people should plan cities for safer societies.
Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur stated that the safety culture is based on mental processes, beliefs, knowledge, and values, and noted that unsocial movements would create weak effects.
Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış: "According to some, an earthquake of 7.7 magnitude 'is not even a disaster'."
Rector's Advisor Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış, who was also the Mayor of Gölcük during the 1999 earthquake, stated in his speech titled "Earthquakes and Civil Society" that the Gölcük earthquake was called the earthquake of the century, and expressed the following:
"It is said that there was a new earthquake of the century on February 6, but these are not true. We do not know what tomorrow will bring. Every era has its own earthquakes. According to some, an earthquake of 7.6 or 7.7 magnitude 'is not even a disaster.' According to others, an earthquake of 5 or 6 magnitude is among the greatest disasters. It can even be called a cosmic disaster. We should magnify events to find solutions, not to hide behind excuses."
Earthquake preparedness training should be given to everyone who joins the military
Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış explained that one of the most important concepts related to earthquakes is disaster management and stated that it is essential to be prepared for disasters first.
Prof. Dr. Barış said that public education is crucial in the preparedness phase, stating, "You will conduct training in the military. You will conduct search and rescue, and earthquake preparedness training. Everyone should be trained for themselves, for their own earthquake."
Emphasizing that training for all kinds of earthquake preparedness, not just search and rescue, is essential, Prof. Dr. Barış noted that central administration and local governments are fundamental elements for reducing damages during an earthquake.
Prof. Dr. Barış: "In the preparedness phase, the Republic of Turkey, I'm not talking about governments, has failed."
Prof. Dr. Barış continued:
"The state did its part, will do it, and is doing it... I'm speaking about the intervention phase. Before that, in the preparedness phase, the Republic of Turkey, I'm not talking about governments, has failed. When? Now? No, before that too... Even before that. In what respect? In terms of the measures that should have been taken."
Prof. Dr. Barış reminded that the zoning regulation changed before the 1999 earthquake, stating, "The citizen having their building constructed feels guilty for doing it inadequately, the municipality feels guilty, citizens demand extra floors, the contractor doesn't even adhere to the regulations of that day to earn more money, and the government, by not taking timely measures, brings about a disaster. Ultimately, there is a societal crime..." Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış noted that everyone contributed to that societal crime.
Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış: "The 1999 earthquake was a turning point for Turkey regarding earthquakes."
Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış noted that the 1999 earthquake was a turning point for Turkey regarding earthquakes, and NGOs, which were previously passive, became active.
Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış stated that new NGOs emerged for earthquakes and other disasters, and during the February 6 earthquake, they became even more functional in search and rescue and other humanitarian aid services, but there was a lack of coordination.
Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış reminded that a Level 4 alarm was issued during the February 6 earthquake. He explained that while AFAD had 600,000 volunteers who received basic disaster training on February 5, 110,000 new volunteers registered on February 6, and approximately 8,000 volunteers were transported to the provinces on February 7.
Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış: "Earthquakes are everyone's problem, as people who will live in a state that will endure until the end of time in this country."
Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış stated that 'spontaneous volunteers' who went to the region on February 6 also served in many areas, adding that all of Turkey is an earthquake zone and vehicle and equipment storage areas should be created at all airports.
"An earthquake is not the job of a mayor elected for 5 years, nor a president or parliament elected for 5 years. Earthquakes are always the problem of all of us, as people who will live in a state that will endure until the end of time in this country," said Prof. Dr. İsmail Barış, noting that the measures taken are correct and urban transformation must also be ensured.
Family photo taken
After the speeches at the symposium, a family photo was taken with the participants.
Disasters discussed in the context of occupational health and safety at the symposium
Later in the symposium, Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan, who is also the Head of the Occupational Diseases - Work Accidents Research and Prevention Foundation, gave a presentation titled "Evaluation of High-Rise Buildings in the Earthquake Zone"; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay spoke on "Occupational Health and Safety in Post-Earthquake Interventions"; Dr. Lecturer Mert Akcanbaş discussed "Psychological Losses and Damages in Earthquakes"; Dr. Kaan Özkan Karadağ presented on "Occupational Health and Safety in Disaster Response Operations"; Research Assistant Tuğçe Oral presented on "Exposure to Respirable and Total Dust Concentration in February 6 Earthquake Search and Rescue and Debris Removal Operations: Hatay Province"; Lecturer Akbey Elçi Akay spoke on "Integration of Earthquake Early Warning Systems into Emergency Plans"; and Batuhan Canbolat presented on "Earthquake Preparedness and Actions to be Taken in the First Hours."