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Earthquake in Turkey: The hero who resisted against illegal construction

2023-02-16 19:44:51Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Earthquake in Turkey: The hero who resisted against illegal construction

A mayor is rising up as a hero in Turkey these tragic days. Okkes Elmasoglu from the Turkish city of Erzin, which is in the middle of the earthquake disaster. Almost no one was harmed in this city.

Okkes Elmasoglu has become a hero in the days after the earthquake in Turkey - simply because he did the right job. Elmasolgu is the mayor of the city of Erzin with about 42,000 inhabitants. Erzin is located in the south of Turkey, between Osmanyie and Iskenderun, in the center of the earthquake zone. But in this city, there is almost no damage. The mayor's explanation for this on Turkish television is simple: "I did not allow construction and illegal construction activities. Sometimes it happened that there was anger towards me, and they asked me ironically, will you be the most honest in this country? Today I have a clear conscience. I did not allow illegal constructions."

Meanwhile, illegal constructions are not few in Turkey. It is known that those who build illegally commit a criminal offense, but before the elections those responsible often escaped the law. But their behavior was and is irresponsible, says Eyub Muhcu from the General Association of Turkish Engineers and Architects. It is located in front of the ruins of a house in Adiyaman. "As we have learned, the building is about a four-story building, which means that the plan was four floors for construction, and the stability of the construction was planned for so many floors. Then, encouraged by the political amnesties in construction, three more floors of construction were put up illegally, and in fact, murder was committed with this."

Earthquake in Turkey: The hero who resisted against illegal construction
Devastation after the earthquake in Turkey

Weak plinth and polished iron bars

Adding one, two or three floors to buildings without permission is a well-known practice in Turkish cities. But this alone does not explain the disaster. Added to this is that in some areas the ground base is very soft and unstable. The construction method also plays a role. A woman confesses in Antakya that she and her neighbors searched the ruins for steel columns. We didn't find any, she confesses. In addition, there are constructions that were built with materials that should not have been used, engineer Muhcu emphasizes. "In many places, you can see how the concrete has deteriorated, the samples we have taken prove this. It is the same with the iron bars that were used." According to Muhcu, there are buildings that have been erected with polished iron bars, while according to construction regulations, corrugated iron should be used nowadays.

According to the mayor of Erzin, Elmasoglu, illegal construction saves money where it shouldn't. Even in Erzin, there have been such constructions, but not without bringing those responsible to justice, he emphasizes. Construction firms have tried to persuade the authorities to turn a blind eye, but Elmasoglu remained steadfast. "They have also come to me. they complained that they couldn't manage to get a building permit, but I was like, 'I'm sorry'. Not a few have been angry with me." But even in Erzin, which was not damaged by the earthquake, all constructions are now being checked./ DW


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