While the painful memories of the August 17, 1999 Marmara Earthquake, the epicenter of which was the Gölcük district of Kocaeli, are revived every year during this period, the Tavşancıl Neighborhood, where not a single brick was moved that night, is once again drawing attention This 7.4 magnitude earthquake, which occurred at 03:02 on August 7, 1999 and lasted for 45 seconds, caused major destruction in Kocaeli, Yalova, Sakarya and Düzce. According to a parliamentary investigation report published in 2010, 18,373 people lost their lives and 48,901 people were injured as a result of this disaster. At the same time, 285,211 houses and 42,902 workplaces were damaged.
While the effects of the earthquake were felt in many districts, it was remarkable that there were no losses in Tavşancıl, a district of Dilovası. While many buildings were destroyed in Körfez right next to it, not a single brick was moved in Tavşancıl. Tavşancıl managed to have a solid structure thanks to the zoning plan prepared by Salih Gün, who was elected mayor in 1989, together with scientists. Gün, who had ground surveys conducted by experts from Kocaeli University after becoming mayor, decided that no floors would exceed 2.5 stories in Tavşancıl.
“The absence of multi-storey houses did not cause destruction”
Tavşancıl Neighborhood Headman Kenan Keleş, who stated that they were caught in the earthquake at home on the night of August 17, said, “We experienced the earthquake heavily. We really got to know the earthquake. Our neighborhood is located on the Northern Marmara Fault Line. The fact that our ground is solid saved us from a great burden. This area also has a historical texture. The houses in our area are generally 3 or 4. -story houses are very rare. That is why we did not experience destruction in our neighborhood.”
“He didn’t even let his own father do it”
Keleş, who stated that former mayor Salih Gün did not allow multi-story buildings during his term of office, said, “As far as I know, the father of the late mayor also wanted to add a floor to his house, but the mayor “Did not even allow him to do so. He applied that rule in our neighborhood. He did a good job, may he rest in peace. He was mayor for 3 terms and a member of parliament for one term.”
Kenan Keleş also emphasized that academics from the university conducted various examinations in Tavşancıl and said, “Ground studies of our region were also conducted. In the examinations, it was determined that there was a hard, rocky ground.”
“We are very happy that there was no destruction in the earthquake”
Mehmet Servet Akkor, who served as the Social Facilities Manager of Tavşancıl Municipality in 1989, said that he slept at home during the disaster and immediately went out to the streets after the earthquake. Akkor, who described encountering Salih Gün while walking on the road, continued his words as follows: “We were walking. I saw a light. Salih Gün was in the official car. He told me, ‘Get in the other official car. Go to Tavşancıl and see if there is any destruction.’ I immediately went to get the official car in front of the municipality. I informed Salih Gün by mobile phone that there was no destruction. Then we went to the municipality. “We were there as managers. An emergency earthquake desk was set up. We were very happy that there was no destruction in the earthquake. People’s lives were very important to us.”
“The first person he got angry with was his father”
Akkor, who stated that buildings, not earthquakes, killed people, said, “That was our biggest advantage. I emphasize it. When the late Salih Gün was elected mayor, he had Kocaeli University officials conduct a ground survey. Our mayor had the authority not to allow any floors over 3 floors and he implemented this. He would even tell the public, ‘If someone wants 4 floors, they shouldn’t come to the municipality.’ There is currently a 4-storey building in Tavşancıl, but those were later structures. No house over 3 floors was built in Tavşancıl after 1989. Salih Gün didn’t give permission for this either. The first person he got angry with in Tavşancıl. His father said, ‘When my son becomes mayor, he will have a house built on top of our house’ for his 2-storey house, he wanted to add floors, but Salih Gün didn’t even let him.”
