One of the most natural disasters we’ve struggled with throughout history. earthquake And tsunami couple last night in Hatay earthquake of and after that with warnings that a tsunami will come He quickly reminded us of himself. Again, this natural disaster duo knows when they’re both going to happen. because we don’t know in advance They have claimed millions of lives so far. However, with current technology, it is possible to take precautions against these events and learn that they will happen even if it is 10-20 seconds earlier.

As you can imagine, Japan, which regularly confronts us with its creative solutions to these two disasters, especially the earthquake, to tsunami measures It is one of the countries that has made the most progress. So how do they achieve all this and opportunities they take advantage of What? What are the measures Turkey is taking compared to Japan’s example?

Japan’s earthquake-focused earthquake and tsunami strategy consists of sensors that can warn people 10-20 seconds before an earthquake, and the ability to make quick decisions on the fly.

Although this period of 10-20 seconds before the earthquake appears to be a very short period, in reality it is enough to save thousands of lives for a while.

Japan uses this time as power grids and natural gas pipelines. by shutting down critical infrastructures as evaluated, throughout the region where the earthquake will occur. by activating alarms and sirens It allows citizens to seek refuge in places where they are safer. But the essence of the matter is not just these alarms and a center.

Let’s get to the logic of the system. Initially, the devices we call earthquake sensors and seismometers are placed in the mechanisms we call seismographs as below and left on the ocean surface above the fault lines.

• The image belongs to a project of the Disaster Prevention Research Institute of Kyoto University.

The large cylinder in this assembly is a seismometer (seismometer), green cylindrical communication device, yellow cylinders lined up side by side lithium ion batteries and the dark pink rectangular prism-shaped device is a recording device.

This device, which weighs 120 kilograms, will send a signal to Japan in case of unusual activity on the disturbances. simultaneously can warn. Finally, after receiving this warning, the Japanese authorities can shut down the critical infrastructure of the region that will be affected in the interval of 10-20 seconds given to them and alert the threatened region. In addition, tsunami predicted Is possible.

The system’s most advanced alternative in Turkey is able to report an earthquake just 5 seconds in advance.

The earthquake sensor at the Istanbul Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM) is designed to help people seek refuge in safer areas compared to its Japanese counterpart. does not recognize a time frame long enough. The extremely short 5-second time frame provided by the system only allows electricity and natural gas infrastructure to go downtown. enough to disable critical infrastructures recognizes the time.

As you can imagine, this system can prevent the situation from getting worse and reduce the damage caused by the earthquake. does not provide protection against tsunamis. Because the infrastructure needed to cope with a potentially huge tsunami in our country is missing.

All precautions against tsunamis because of the measures to be taken against earthquakes Using technologies such as the earthquake sensors mentioned above, faults likely to cause tsunamis should be inspected regularly.

As a matter of fact, the measures Japan has taken against earthquakes and the technological possibilities it has benefited from can also be used against tsunamis, as we have just mentioned.

As you know, the earthquake no longer poses a serious threat to Japan, which has begun to build solid buildings. Therefore, the real threat to them is the earthquakes rather than the earthquake. huge tsunamis.

The 2011 Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident was one of the most destructive tsunamis in Japanese history. Tōhoku tsunami happened after that. In this country, where there are almost no casualties from earthquakes, the waves are more than 15 meters after this tsunami almost 20 thousand There were deaths and one could expect a nuclear disaster comparable to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. at the last moment prevented.

This tsunami and the disaster in Fukushima not only affected Japan, but also for the rest of the world it was a great lesson. Certain countries, especially the countries of the European Union and some trading partners, have started to close their nuclear power plants, which are believed to be in dangerous positions, to avoid a similar disaster, to more strictly control the construction processes of nuclear power plants , and to build polder-like earthen walls on the coasts where a tsunami can occur.

against tsunamis almost never Japan, taking no precautions, began building seawalls on the coasts to reduce the speed of the tsunami.

Contrary to popular belief, tsunami is not a threat unique to ocean-coastal countries like Japan.

This danger It is also valid for Turkey. Considering the major and serious measures taken against earthquakes and tsunamis caused by earthquakes in Japan, the lack of a disaster infrastructure It’s not hard to spot.

As you recently noticed, the disaster response measures that have not been taken since the earthquake of 1999 continue to cost lives, as they did with the February 6 earthquakes. Against tsunamis, which do not require large bodies of water such as oceans to be realized, and can be experienced even in landlocked seas such as the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, Turkey stands as Turkey. We also We must take precautions.

Consider the earthquake that occurred in Hatay on February 20. Since the fault lines in Hatay, Southeastern Anatolia and environs do not flood much into the Mediterranean Sea, earthquakes in these areas are unlikely to trigger a severe tsunami. However, this does not mean that our other coastal areas will not be in danger of tsunami. does not come.

It can be said that there is always a tsunami risk in all our coastal areas except the Black Sea area in Turkey. The reason for this is the general elevation of the Black Sea region. compared to other regions being high.

The parts with the highest tsunami risk in our country are the North Anatolian fault line. The part that runs through the south of Istanbul and south of the Aegean Sea Helen wrong or as it is commonly known”Helen’s bow“. An earthquake that will arise on these fault lines at least 3 meters There is a possibility that they will cause tsunami waves at height.

It can be said that the necessary investigations and studies have already started for our regions that are likely to experience a tsunami.

Istanbul metropolitan municipality in 2018 In collaboration with the Middle East Technical University When the “Istanbul Marmara Coasts Tsunami Modeling, Vulnerability and Hazard Analysis Update Project” and the “Istanbul Province Tsunami Action Plan” they prepared in 2019 are examined, it can be said that for the time being, at least for Istanbul, tsunami risk studies have been carried out taken to an advanced level.

From Boğaziçi University Geophysics Department, Dr. Written by Öcal NecmioğluRequirements for an effective tsunami early warning and tsunami risk mitigation system in Turkeyand many others similarly warn of tsunami risk.

In addition to all these, according to a news report from Anadolu Agency on November 4, 2022, last year from AFAD, IMM, Boğazici University, Gebze Technical University And Middle East Technical University that they have conducted a joint “Tsunami Awareness Exercise” and for the first time in Istanbul in 2021. that a tsunami observation station was established. need to be stated. This tsunami observatory, which can warn tsunamis 5-7 minutes in advance, could mean we’ve come a long way compared to AKOM’s earthquake prediction system 5 seconds in advance.

The fact that all the studies and surveys we mentioned have been conducted in our country against the tsunami threat. there is already an awareness And the necessary measures have been taken can be interpreted as