## 1 Introduction
[5], corroborates the idea that earthen constructions globally exhibit analogous susceptibilities, even in the presence of moderate seismic activity, unless they are enhanced through improved mortar strength, the inclusion of ring beams, or external reinforcement. The 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquakes represent merely the latest instance of a recur  
Figure 1: (**a**) The geographical distribution of the 11 provinces most affected by the 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquakes, and (**b**) the corresponding damage distribution of masonry dwellings based on field assessments conducted by the author using the EMS-98 [2] scale. ring phenomenon wherein occupant modifications and insufficient design scrutiny yield catastrophic failure mechanisms. A comprehensive analysis of the global seismic behavior of masonry buildings deepens our comprehension of the challenges faced in selected rural provinces of eastern Turkiye. Field evaluations in this research were mostly done in areas like Adiyaman, Malatya, Gaziantep, Hatay, and Kahramanmaras, where URM dwellings are common and often altered by residents without engineering supervision. In this context, the term \"occupant expansions\" refers to structural additions made by homeowners, like extra rooms, kitchen wings, or even second stories, that are typically built without permits, design drawings, or any input from engineers. These additions often disrupt the balance and continuity of the original structure, making them more prone to failure during seismic events. Similar weaknesses have been recorded elsewhere. For example, in Italy, notable seismic events, such as those in Emilia-Romagna [6; 7; 8] and L'Aquila [9], demonstrated that traditional masonry, encompassing both stone and brick, exhibits vulnerability to out-of-plane failures, corner fractures, and partial collapses in the absence of ring beams or ties. [PERSON] et al. [8] established sophisticated retrofitting techniques, including external tie rods or near-surface mounted reinforcements, to significantly enhance the durability of older masonry constructs. However, alterations driven by occupants, particularly in rural Italian villages, frequently occur without regulation, resulting in a phenomenon analogous to occupant expansions in Turkiye. In southeastern and eastern Anatolia, occupant expansions present a microcosm of these global concerns. The expansions are typically constructed for extra living space, storage, or extended family members, yet rarely incorporate ring beams or uniform mortar. According to occupant interviews after the 2023 Kahramanmaras quakes [10; 11], expansions often follow local craft tradition, relying on friction-based mortar and interior walls improvised from leftover bricks or stone rubble. While the Specification for Masonry Structures (TMS 602) [12] or Turkish Building Earthquake Code (TBEC 2018) [13] would ordinarily require continuous horizontal ties and compliance with specified shear capacities, occupant expansions proceed unobserved by official authorities, leading to partial or total collapses under significant lateral shaking. These expansions also hamper any prospect of large-scale hazard mapping or microzonation if the dwellings deviate from the assumptions of code-based geometry. One of the significant characteristics of occupant expansions is their capacity to convert a stable, albeit outdated, single-story masonry structure into one exhibiting abrupt vertical or horizontal discrepancies. When expansions are executed outwardly, new access points are chiseled into load-bearing walls, resulting in openings that compromise in-plane shear strength and may induce diagonal fractures. Conversely, occupant expansions may introduce a second level that is inadequately anchored to the foundational walls, establishing a precariously top-heavy configuration, particularly on earthen mortar. Around the world, many earthquake-prone countries face a common issue: residents gradually expand their homes without formal engineering input.