The Commonwealth Network for Earthquake-Resistant Construction in Developing Countries Vol. Since the last newsletter three developing countries, Turkey, Taiwan and Mexico have suffered large and damaging earthquakes. The degree of devastation we have seen on TV and read about is horrific. As we have seen the scale of damage to the built environment and its human consequences our hearts have gone out to those affected. About 30,000 people have been killed, some 50,000 buildings destroyed, and 600,000 people made homeless.
Turkey has a tragic earthquake history.
In 1933 some 33,000 people died in one earthquake, and as recently as June 1998, nearly 1000 buildings collapsed or were damaged beyond repair. According to one report following last year s event, the earthquake called attention to problems endemic in Turkey in building quality control, poor planning, and insistent repetition of known errors. While building standards themselves are probably adequate, most problems occur because of poor design, construction and supervision. No doubt we will publish more information on the latest earthquake as findings of reconnaissance teams are published. The recent Izmit earthquake is not only a reminder of just how devastating an earthquake can be, but it can also be an opportunity for those of us in unaffected regions to reflect on our own vulnerability and improve the resilience of our own buildings.