Afyon Kocatepe University (AKU), Afyonkarahisar Governorship Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) and Bolvadin Municipality evaluated the scientific studies conducted by AKU Earthquake Application and Research Center (DUAM) on the analysis and mapping of surface deformations observed within Bolvadin settlement area and the disaster risks of Afyonkarahisar in a meeting held at the AFAD Directorate. As part of the Consultancy Service Protocol signed between them, the meeting was chaired by the Governor of Afyonkarahisar, Assoc. Dr. Kübra Güran Yiğitbaşı and attended by AKU Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Karakaş, Deputy Governor Mehmet Keklik, Bolvadin District Governor Taner Bolat, Bolvadin Mayor Fatih Kayacan, AFAD Provincial Director Mehmet Buldan, administrators of related institutions and organizations and DUAM Director Prof. Dr. Çağlar Özkaymak, DUAM Vice Director Prof. Dr. İbrahim Tiryakioğlu and DUAM Board Member Assist. Prof. Dr. Veli Başaran, who carried out the project studies.
Building deformation reached 7 kilometers
During the meeting, DUAM Director Prof. Dr. Çağlar Özkaymak, who made a presentation on the results of their studies carried out in Bolvadin settlement area, stated that the surface deformations that started to occur without a destructive earthquake on the Bolvadin Fault after the 6.3 and 6.0 magnitude Çay earthquakes on February 3, 2002 continued to increase every year. Özkaymak stated that 3 new deformation branches, which became more visible on the surface after 2020, also occurred, and "Thus, these deformations in Bolvadin settlement area reached an approximate length of 7 km. An average of 9 cm vertical displacement occurred along this linear deformation line every year. Approximately 100 buildings were affected by these deformations along the deformation line." Özkaymak drew attention to the earthquake risk in Bolvadin due to faults and fractures under the buildings, which reduces the carrying capacity of the ground and causes permanent damage to the buildings on it.
Deformation zone should be declared an area exposed to disaster by introducing zoning changes
Özkaymak said that faults and fractures under the buildings can cause permanent damage to buildings due to the reduced carrying capacity of the ground, and therefore, drew attention to the disaster risk in Bolvadin. He stated that after zoning changes are made by Bolvadin Municipality to close the area to construction, the deformation zone with a length of 7 km in the region should be declared an area exposed to disaster, and priority should be given to the studies on moving the damaged structures located in the zone to areas without disaster risk.
Provincial Director of the AFAD, Mehmet Buldan, informed about the project developments related to rock fall hazards observed in Bolvadin settlement area and Büyük Kalecik. During the IRAP meeting, the mutual opinions of the institutions and organizations that attended the meeting about the priority studies that should be carried out to minimize the potential disaster risks in Afyonkarahisar and its surrounding area in the coming years, especially in the Bolvadin settlement area, were evaluated, and measures aimed at reducing the risks were discussed and agreed upon.
