Question

After the August 17, 1999 earthquake in Turkey, there were 18,000 dead and 500,000 homeless. Which of these were significantly damaged in the quake?

a) Sixth-century Hagia Sophia
b) Large tracts of housing constructed between World War II and 1989
c) Tightly packed historic districts
d) Modern highrise apartments built in the decade 1989-1999

Answer

d) Most of 21,000 buildings that collapsed were highrise apartment buildings built in the previous decade to alleviate the housing crunch caused by the rapid migration of rural population to the cities and suburbs. Concrete “diluted” with sea sand, inadequate reinforcing, and illegal extra stories were some of the causes of failure. The older buildings, including Hagia Sophia, fared much better owing to more solid craftsmanship and materials.