Outdated Building Methods, Contributed to Devastation of Quakes , in Turkey and Syria.
NPR reports that thousands of buildings were
reduced to rubble when a magnitude 7.8 earthquake
struck Turkey and northern Syria on February 6.
NPR reports that thousands of buildings were
reduced to rubble when a magnitude 7.8 earthquake
struck Turkey and northern Syria on February 6.
According to civil engineer Jonathan Stewart,
the widespread devastation is similar to another
major quake that struck Turkey in 1999.
According to civil engineer Jonathan Stewart,
the widespread devastation is similar to another
major quake that struck Turkey in 1999.
Stewart, an engineering professor at the University of
California, Los Angeles, was part of an infrastructure
inspection team dispatched to Turkey at the time.
Stewart, an engineering professor at the University of
California, Los Angeles, was part of an infrastructure
inspection team dispatched to Turkey at the time.
According to Stewart, the 1999 disaster
resulted in "tremendous loss of life
from pancaked buildings.".
That earthquake left over 17,000 people
dead, many who died in collapsing
buildings as they fled for their lives.
"Pancaking" is the sudden collapse of a multi-story
building, which was seen again when the February 6
quake and a follow-up 7.5 magnitude tremor struck.
Typically, the columns and the beams are
concrete. And then there's kind of a masonry
infill block inside these frames, which falls
apart very quickly when the shaking begins, Jonathan Stewart, Civil engineer and engineering professor at
the University of California, Los Angeles, via NPR.
Currently, the death toll has
already exceeded 3,400 in Turkey,
with over 1,500 dead in neighboring Syria. .
Currently, the death toll has
already exceeded 3,400 in Turkey,
with over 1,500 dead in neighboring Syria. .
NPR reports that survivors may still be found beneath
the rubble as search and rescue efforts continue,
though the death toll is also expected to rise.
NPR reports that survivors may still be found beneath
the rubble as search and rescue efforts continue,
though the death toll is also expected to rise.
According to a preliminary estimate by Turkish
officials, approximately 3,000 buildings were
destroyed by the February 6 quakes.
According to a preliminary estimate by Turkish
officials, approximately 3,000 buildings were
destroyed by the February 6 quakes