International Earthquake symposium - Kocaeli 2009

The earthquakes that occurred in Kocaeli and in Düzce in 1999 were devastating disasters, deeply affecting the whole Marmara Region from both an economical and social point of view. More than 20 million people were affected in the Marmara Region, causing the loss of more than 18,000 lives and billions of dollars for the Turkish economy.

The year of 2009 is the decennial commemoration of the earthquakes. Kocaeli University, the General Directorate of Disasters Affairs and the Turkish Red Crescent have unified their experience and power in order to organize the ‘Disaster of Turkey: 10th Anniversary Commemeration week’. Kocaeli University, the General Directorate of Disaster Affairs and the Turkish Red Crescent have decided to share their knowledge and organize the symposium and the decennial commemoration events together, with lessons learned from the 1999 earthquakes among others.