The architect Patrick Coulombel, co -founder of the Architects of the Emergency Foundation, explains why Turkish anti -sound standards, the same as in Europe, are not always respected.
Interview by Rémi Barroux
Patrick Coulombel is co -founder of the Architects of the Emergency Foundation. This 59 -year -old architect intervened in the field of many earthquakes or disasters. He analyzes for MO12345lemonde the consequences of the murderous earthquake of February 6 which destroyed many towns and villages in Turkey and Syria.
Are you preparing to go there in the disaster areas?
The day after the disaster, we made our availability known to get there and participate in the necessary assessments and controls. Unlike the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia in 2004 or the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, where we had up to 800 and 500 people on site respectively, we do not have a team on the field in Turkey or in Syria. The authorities refuse any other aid than help for rescue and clearing, what can be understood, and accept humanitarian aid but only under their organizations.
For our part, we have equipment available, tarpaulins to make shelters. And we are ready to contribute to the work assessment and safety work.
What do you think are the characteristics of this earthquake?
This is the most powerful earthquake, of magnitude 7.8, for many years, in highly populated areas, and moreover an earthquake, only 17.9 kilometers deep, which increases the destruction . I do not remember such a powerful earthquake since that of August 1999, in Turkey also [near Izmit, which had left 17,000 dead], in an area with important cities, like that of Gaziantep and its more than two million inhabitants.
The problem, as often, is that the recurrence of such intense phenomena is very old, the last in this region dating from one hundred and fifty and a year, and that there is therefore no active collective memory. The inhabitants have not experienced it, or even heard of stories of old ones, and they are therefore less under pressure, little concern for safety rules.
The relationship with the population, its density, is very important since it determines the number of potential victims. Thus, the big earthquake that specialists expect is located near the Marmara Sea. It would have terrible consequences with the proximity of Istanbul, its more than fifteen million inhabitants and its many buildings not meeting parasismic standards. Besides, many residents of Istanbul prefer to leave their accommodation because they fear an upcoming earthquake.
You have 67.69% of this article to read. The continuation is reserved for subscribers.