Evaluation of Turkish Seismic Codes and Observed Damages in Reinforced Concrete Structures by 2020 Samos/Izmir Earthquake

Abstract

On October 30, 2020, an Mw = 7.0 earthquake hit Izmir, Turkey, causing the loss of 118 lives and injuries of over a thousand people while producing a high monetary loss in the region. In this study, field observations in the earthquake-struck area have demonstrated that the damages were localized on reinforced concrete (RC) structures, related to low quality of materials, improper workmanship, not fulfilling the design and seismic code requirements, and lack of inspection and the characteristics of the site displayed a significant impact. The critical problem in the region is the lack of proper inspection by authority during the construction stage.