Structural earthquake engineers headed to Van, Turkey to assess damage

VAN, Turkey – A team of earthquake and structural engineers from Miyamoto International will soon arrive in Van, Turkey, to support the disaster relief efforts in response to the devastating magnitude 7.2 earthquake on October 23.

“In response to our client’s request, we will begin damage assessments as quickly as possible focusing on structural failures and collecting key data on the earthquake’s impact on infrastructure, buildings and utilities,” says Yusuf Zahit Gündogdu, principal of Miyamoto International in Istanbul.

Engineers will support individuals, businesses, governments, and communities to help ensure safety upon building reentry after the assessments have been made. Engineers will use the assessment data for subsequent repair and rebuilding efforts.

“After a disaster, it is critical to identify which buildings are safe to occupy and which ones can sustain continued operations. That’s why we will be there,” says Dr. Kit Miyamoto, president and CEO of Miyamoto International.