How building code spared one Turkish town from earthquake
A mayor in devastated Hatay province says his town escaped the destruction seen elsewhere thanks in part to enforcement of construction codes.
ISTANBUL — Angry debate about Turkey’s poor housing standards has erupted since last week’s earthquakes. Amid the outrage, critics point to the town of Erzin as an example of how properly implemented building laws can prevent deaths.
Erzin lies in northern Hatay, which has suffered the greatest loss of life in the now 11 affected provinces, some 110 kilometers (68 miles) from the epicenter of the 7.8 magnitude quake that struck in the early hours of Feb. 6.
Yet not a single building collapsed in the district of 42,000 people and there have been zero fatalities.
Construction engineers and earthquake scientists have said the town’s escape is at least partly due to the strict enforcement of building regulations, although its location and geology also played a role.
