TURKISH EARTHQUAKE - AUGUST 1999
TURKISH EARTHQUAKE - AUGUST 1999
A Report by Divisional Officer Simon Webb WSFB
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On August 17 at 3:02 a.m. local time, an earthquake measuring 7.81 on the Richter scale struck Izmit, Turkey, an industrial city of one million inhabitants in western Turkey. Izmit is approximately 50 miles east-southeast of Istanbul, Turkey's largest city. Aftershocks were felt following the initial tremor with some registering more than 5.0 on the Richter scale. The major areas affected include various districts of Istanbul and provinces of Izmit (Kocaeli), Adapazari (Sakarya), Yalova, Bursa, Eskishir, and Bolu to the east and southeast of Istanbul. Turkey's main naval base at Golcuk suffered extensive damage, with major losses of life among Turkish navy personnel. Electricity and telecommunications grids in the impacted areas were damaged and the major east-west power transmission line collapsed in the Duzce prefecture of Bolu province, approximately 150 miles east of Istanbul.
Natural gas distribution was curtailed in some affected areas to avoid leakage or fires in damaged buildings.
The Turkish Coordination Council for Relief, operating under the leadership of the Prime Minister, oversaw all relief operations in the affected region being carried out by national forces, Turkish Red Crescent and volunteers. The UN Resident Representative in Ankara met with Turkish authorities, who were informed that the Turkish Government would welcome international assistance in dealing with the immediate life saving requirements to this disaster. With the quake striking a heavily populated area when most people were sleeping, the casualty figures were expected to climb. UK assistance to earthquake zone The International Development Minister announced a package of assistance to help deal with the immediate aftermath of the Turkish earthquake. A UKFSSART Team from Fire Brigades around the UK, as well as the International Rescue Corps , in total, 40 personnel were sent to Turkey on the evening of the 17th August , together with equipment including Thermal Imaging Cameras, videoprobes, lighting and cutting tools. This first contingent consisted of UKFSSART members from the following brigades - West Midlands, Mid and West Wales, Leicestershire, Cheshire and South Wales. Initial reports indicated up to 1,000 are dead, with many more missing and thousands injured. A second contingent of UKFSSART personnel together with two dogs and their handlers was asked to go to Turkey and were flown out from RAF Lyneham on the 18th August at 2100hrs. This second contingent was made up of teams from the following Brigades - Kent, Essex, West Midlands, Hampshire and West Sussex. Deployment of second contingent Once the second contingent arrived at Istanbul airport at 0600hrs on the 19th August transport consisting of three coaches and a ferry crossing was arranged and they were dispatched to the town of Yalova, which is across the Marmaris Sea from Istanbul and was one of the worst affected areas. Two local interpreters were provided for this contingent. Whilst at the ferry terminal Dr McNeil secured the services of a local ambulance and crew to assist the teams. At the crisis centre based in the sports stadium at Yalova the contingent were tasked to search a local building in Yalova and then proceed to the seaside resort of Aydin. The local building was searched using the dogs and the vibraphones and then they moved on to Aydin.
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