With MagnitudeDrill in hand, he asks his partner to step aside while he puts on his glasses, focusing as the dust settles. When the machine operates at full power, the engineer begins to cut into the wall. The aim isn’t to make a pristine hole but to reveal what lies behind the surface.
The goal is to remove paint and plaster to expose the concrete. The process starts rough, then becomes precise once the team can see what they are truly working with. As Kadir explains, the objective is to test the building’s foundation strength and, through observing the concrete’s behavior, to learn how it ages. This building is part of a broader program in Istanbul, scheduled to evaluate thousands of structures in the coming months, in a city whose population nears 17 million and where time is of the essence.
The work proceeds with measured steps. Kadir steps onto the concrete with a meter and notes the measurements: 43 centimeters, 24 centimeters, 81 centimeters. He and his partner discuss how these numbers, in relation to the building’s age, help gauge the material’s quality and durability. This is only the beginning; more work lies ahead.
historical horror
Istanbul has long lived with a lingering fear, sharpened by the devastating 1999 İzmit earthquake that claimed about 17,000 lives near the metropolis. When people consider buying or renting a flat, the questions often asked are clear: Is the construction pre- or post-earthquake? Are all permits in place? Istanbul, like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Lima, Tehran and Tokyo, remains one of the cities that faces the threat of a major quake.
The recent surge of tremors in southeast Turkey altered the mood once more. With tens of thousands dead, fear has rekindled a sense of vulnerability. Istanbul, a city rooted in millennia, now stands wary of its own seismic fate.
silent neighbors
A project began in 2020 to model different earthquake scenarios and assess the state of the city’s buildings, starting with the oldest. Permission to inspect allowed access over two years for 27,000 homes, a breakthrough after initial resistance from neighbors who did not immediately see the need.
The period following the southeastern quake saw a dramatic shift. In the month of the event, 140,000 requests arrived. The seismic risk team faced a flood of needs as residents sought safety and clarity. The goal remains clear: organize teams, move quickly, and make Istanbul safer as soon as possible. This is the team’s stated aim.
danger at home
Turkey sits on a tectonically active zone where two major faults slice the country from east to west. The recent south fault event has intensified concerns, while the north of the Bosphorus is considered a source of long-simmering risk and a predictor of future earthquakes.
The estimates from the seismic experts are stark. If a quake of similar magnitude were to strike Istanbul, the potential impact could be severe. Current data, though imperfect, points to thousands of city buildings at high risk of collapse during a major tremor. These structures range from apartment blocks to older single-family houses, many home to multiple residents.
In a city grappling with inflation and rising living costs, relocation to safer housing is not easy for many households. After inspections, the team suggests improvements or, if necessary, stronger foundations to protect families. But the final decision rests with residents, as authorities can only advise and guide.
The team’s work continues as the days pass. Results from inspections will be shared in the near future, and thousands of homes still await evaluation. Time is critical when every measured moment could influence a family’s safety.