The 17 August 1999 Kocaeli (İzmit) Earthquake: Historical Records and Seismic Culture

Abstract

The 17 August 1999 İzmit, Turkey, earthquake (M∼7.4) was the latest in a long series of large seismic events to occur along the North Anatolian Fault Zone. The detailed recording of earthquakes in the İzmit region, from anti-quity to recent times, has allowed a unique archive to be developed that is invaluable to present day seismologists. Additionally, historical building practices, in particular the incorporation of the hatıl or ringbeam, indicate that adaptations to earthquakes in the form of seismic cultures were present in Turkey during Byzantine and Ottoman times and can be re-evaluated in relation to contemporary building practices. This is particularly important with respect to the potential threat now facing the population of İstanbul, a large proportion of which are in a highly vulnerable position. This paper suggests that “experts” use this seismic knowledge to produce a meaningful account of earthquake hazard for local people in order to reduce marginalization in case of a future event.

Bam 2003 earthquake disaster: On the earthquake risk perception, resilience and earthquake culture – Cultural beliefs and cultural landscape of Qanats, gardens of Khorma trees and Argh-e Bam

“…Harry Moore [49], Anderson [50] Wenger and Weller [51], Mileti and Darlington [13] and other insights about "seismic culture" [54,55,56] there was no earthquake "disaster subculture" or "earthquake culture" in Bam before 2003 earthquake disaster. Earthquake was not part of the life of Bam communities and there were no recorded historical and instrumental records of earthquakes disasters in Bam.…”

“…However, the essential role of Arg-e Bam, Qanats, gardens of Khorma trees and mountains for disaster recovery and communities' resilience was kept alive through powerful cultural beliefs. Based on developed theories and practices observed in other places of the world by Homan and Eastwood [54] Karababa and Guthrie [55], Halvorson and Hamilton [56] and Bankoff [49], the cultural beliefs and cultural landscape and cultural heritage of Bam needs be integrated towards building and development of an "earthquake culture" or "seismic culture" and a culture of earthquake disaster risk reduction in Iran [5].…”

“…The seismic risk was known in the area and the culture of local communities presented an abundance of accounts about disastrous consequences of earthquakes [13]. Homan and Eastwood [54] analysed the "disaster subculture" within the context of the 1999 Kocaeli earthquake disaster in Turkey and introduced the term of "seismic culture" which "could be described as being the knowledge (both pragmatic and theoretical) that has built up in a community exposed to seismic risks through time". Karababa and Guthrie [55] and Halvarson and Hamilton [56] developed and analysed furthermore the concept of "seismic culture" for communities in Greece and central Asia (Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan).…”

Detailed and simplified non-linear models for timber-framed masonry structures

“…Detailed descriptions of damage in T-F masonry structures during earthquakes that occurred in the past decade are given in the literature e.g. [2,[10][11][12][13][14].…”

Earthquake Culture: A Significant Element in Earthquake Disaster Risk Assessment and Earthquake Disaster Risk Management

“…Homan and Eastwood ( [25], p. 629) analyzed the seismic culture in Turkey, after the Kocaeli (Izmit) 1999 earthquake disaster, and advised that "Seismic cultures could be described as being the knowledge (both pragmatic and theoretical) that has built up in a community exposed to seismic risks through time." Degg and Homan [26] emphasized that the earthquake vulnerability in the Middle East was seen possible to be reduced through the seismic cultures.…”