Disaster Plan Updated for a Potential İstanbul Earthquake: Eskişehir Also in the Field

The Turkey Disaster Response Plan (TAMP) has been updated in light of the lessons learned from the earthquakes that occurred in 2023 and caused massive destruction across the country. This comprehensive revision aims to increase the country's level of preparedness against a potential Marmara earthquake scenario. With the new regulations, the list of priority provinces that will provide support in a potential İstanbul earthquake has been expanded. Eskişehir has been added to this list, among the cities that can rapidly integrate into the response process with its own infrastructure and human resources. Thus, it is aimed to ensure that coordination is carried out in a stronger and more inclusive manner during a regional disaster.

Along with the updated disaster plan, the number of provinces that will deliver aid to İstanbul in times of crisis has been increased from 17 to 23. This increase stems from the acknowledgment that the devastating impact of a potential earthquake would be far beyond what a single city could handle on its own. These supporting provinces, including Eskişehir, have been positioned to respond instantly to İstanbul's needs with teams, equipment, and expert human resources. The new draft offers a holistic approach that brings together not only the dynamics of state institutions but also civil society and the private sector. To increase the applicability of the said plan, the draft has been presented to the reviews and contributions of all relevant public institutions, private sector representatives, and non-governmental organizations.

Within the scope of the new plan prepared by AFAD, among the 23 provinces that will support İstanbul are cities from different geographical regions of the country, such as İzmir, Ankara, Bursa, Antalya, Kayseri, Gaziantep, Adana, and Trabzon. Along with these cities, Eskişehir has also been tasked with conducting a coordinated effort regarding İstanbul's emergency shelter, search and rescue, logistics, and health needs in the event of a potential major disaster. Dividing cities into such regions and allocating tasks in this way enables the development of alternative response methods against risks such as the closure or damage of transportation networks during a potential crisis. Thus, the chaos that might occur in the initial moments of the earthquake is intended to be minimized through a pre-determined and exercised institutional cooperation model.

The new system envisages the establishment of a much faster, coordinated, and effective response mechanism against disasters. To achieve this goal, it is planned for a wide variety of institutions, such as public authorities, local administrations, municipalities, universities, and professional chambers, to act together. The academic background of universities and the technical expertise of professional chambers will be of critical importance in search and rescue and subsequent reconstruction processes. In addition, the field knowledge of special provincial administrations and local governments will help ensure the response is conducted with on-site and accurate decisions. This synergy among institutions demonstrates that disaster management is addressed as a continuous process that includes risk reduction and preparation phases, rather than being reduced solely to the moment of crisis.

As a result, this update in Turkey's disaster management policies represents a significant step based on scientific data and past bitter experiences. These measures taken after the major earthquakes in 2023 aim to create a culture of awareness and preparedness in the country against a potential Marmara earthquake in the future. The expanded support network, which includes Eskişehir, will function as a buffer zone to prevent the crisis from spreading if a densely populated and economically critical city like İstanbul is devastated. How successfully all these institutional and logistical preparations will be implemented in the field can only be tested during an actual crisis or through comprehensive exercises. However, the current plan is considered a concrete indicator that a proactive management approach against disasters has been adopted and inter-agency cooperation has been elevated to the highest level.