Nazmi ŞAHİN
Nazmi ŞAHİN – 6 FEBRUARY
Never Forgetting 6 February
The Kahramanmaraş-centred earthquakes that struck on 6 February 2023 took tens of thousands of our people from among us; they razed cities, lives and hopes to the ground. This great disaster painfully laid bare not only the power of nature, but also how grave the consequences of man-made mistakes can be.
Today, as we commemorate 6 February, we must remember our responsibilities as well as mourn those we lost.
An earthquake is a natural event; but destruction is not a fate. It is precisely at this point that engineering exists as a scientific discipline that places human life at its centre. With proper geotechnical surveys, design in compliance with the regulations, the use of quality materials and fidelity to engineering principles, earthquakes can be survived without turning into loss of life.
An effective, independent and competent building inspection system is not merely a technical necessity, but also a social responsibility. Building inspection is not bureaucracy, but a guarantee of life. The failure of legislators to establish sound legislation and the failure of all sector stakeholders, each in turn, to fulfil their responsibilities properly and effectively, has been etched into memory as one of the most important factors turning an earthquake into a disaster.
Our Wish: The Guidance of Science
Our greatest wish is for technical reason and engineering ethics to take precedence over every kind of economic concern.
Building inspection exists not to be talked about after disasters, but so that disasters never happen at all.
Today, we commemorate with respect and mercy all our citizens who lost their lives on 6 February. Our debt to them is to take science as our guide, to apply engineering uncompromisingly, and to regard inspection not as a formality but as a guarantee of life, so that the same suffering is never experienced again.
May our nation’s condolences be accepted; may God never make us experience such an earthquake again.
We Commemorate Them with Respect and Mercy
