## 5 Conclusions  
With particular emphasis on failures resulting from occupant-driven expansions and departures from seismic code requirements, this paper offers a thorough investigation of the seismic vulnerability of URM homes in eastern Turkiye. Based on field data from past and current earthquakes, the study shows how informal construction methods, especially the lack of ring beams, use of non-compliant mortar, and omission of vertical tie components, undermine structural integrity even in low-to-moderate-rise buildings.  
The results show that structural breakdowns are not just the outcome of obsolete construction practices or material constraints but also the consequence of a systematic divergence between formal regulatory systems and the reality of rural building activity. Although the TBEC (2018) [13] calls for accurate seismic performance criteria, including wall slenderness ratios, mortar classification, ring beams, and confinement detailing, occupant expansions often treat these requirements as non-structural interventions and often ignore or avoid them, compromising their notable load-bearing effects.  
The creation of Appendix A, which combines technical material in a homeowner-accessible manner, is one of the major contributions of this work. This appendix connects expert knowledge to practical advice by converting technical failures into a table of field-observed problems, related damage processes, and straightforward retrofitting remedies. It emphasizes the necessity of a new type of community-oriented seismic literacy that supports regulatory change.  
Ultimately, the paper contends that not only improvements in code complexity but also the official acknowledgment of informal building realities will be necessary for significant seismic risk reduction in Turkiye's brick dwelling sector. Structural extensions have to be viewed as seismic interventions and held to fundamental engineering standards. Municipal control should be enhanced; records of important design practices should be made readily accessible in a simpler, illustrated manner. The method shown here offers a scalable outreach strategy as well as a diagnostic framework, maybe relevant to other seismically active areas with high degrees of informal building.  
While this study offers a detailed look at how masonry buildings performed during recent earthquakes, it is important to be upfront about its limitations. The damage assessments were carried out in the immediate aftermath of the 2023 Kahramanmaras events, under field conditions that did not allow for lab testing or the use of specialized tools like Schmidt hammers or core extraction. As a result, many of the evaluations relied on visual inspections and pattern recognition rather than precise measurements. Also, while trends were observed, such as the link between unreinforced expansions and structural failure, these relationships were not backed by statistical modeling or numeric correlation. Future studies could build on this work by incorporating more standardized assessment methods, detailed material testing, and broader datasets. Doing so would help not only validate the patterns noted here but also support more targeted retrofit guidelines and practical policy solutions.  
This study was generously supported by funding from The Scientific and Technological Research Institution of T\(\check{\text{u}}\)Kriye (T\(\check{\text{o}}\)B\(\check{\text{i}}\)TAK) under the \"1002-C Natural Disasters-Focused Fieldwork Emergency Support Program\" with a Project ID: 123D071.  
Not applicable.  
The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.  
The author is grateful for the administrative support of Istanbul Technical University, and the contributions of various academics in reconnaissance studies are highly appreciated.  
The author declares no conflicts of interest.  
Appendix A Owner-Oriented Summary of Critical Seismic Deficiencies and Solutions Based on Code Provisions