Izmit 1999
Protecting buildings from earthquakes
Structural engineers make sure that materials don’t collapse because of an earthquake
They rely on flexibility and ductility
Why did the buildings fall?
Mud brick structures got destroyed
65% of all buildings in Turkey are built without a permit
Cheaply built
Rebuilding Izmit
People stayed and helped rebuild buildings
Other people left Izmit
Some people were very scared to go into their homes
Tent cities to help the homeless
Events of the earthquake
On August 17, 1999 at 3:01 AM an earthquake struck in the city of Izmit, Turkey.
Produced up to 60 km of cracks in the earth’s surface
Measured 7.4 on the Richter scale
Depth of 17 km
