Study Finds High Earthquake Awareness but Persistent Preparedness Gaps

By Bosphorus News Staff

A new nationwide survey published by Türkiye İMSAD on February 2026 finds that while public awareness of earthquake risk in Türkiye is widespread, household-level preparedness remains structurally weak.

Türkiye İMSAD, the Turkish Construction Material Industrialists’ Association, represents a core segment of the country’s building materials and construction ecosystem. Its latest research, titled “Earthquake Risk and Life Awareness Survey,” examines public perception, behavior and preparedness patterns in a country where seismic exposure is systemic rather than episodic.

According to the study, 66 percent of Türkiye’s landmass and 71 percent of its population live in earthquake-prone areas. Nearly six in ten respondents, 59.8 percent, say they have personally experienced a serious earthquake. 40.6 percent expect a destructive earthquake within the next five years.

Yet preparedness indicators do not match this risk perception.

• 45.5 percent say they do not feel prepared for a major earthquake.

• 73.1 percent do not have an emergency earthquake kit at home.

• 55.2 percent do not know their official assembly area.

• 45.6 percent report that they have not secured any furniture or interior fixtures.

The most consequential data concerns building safety.

74.5 percent of respondents say they have never had a structural risk assessment conducted for their building. Despite this, 59.4 percent believe their building is safe.

Insurance penetration remains limited. Only 41.6 percent report having compulsory earthquake insurance (DASK), leaving a majority without financial coverage.

The study also identifies a significant information deficit. 71.2 percent say they struggle to access reliable and accurate earthquake-related information. 57.7 percent are unaware of urban transformation support programs, and 42.5 percent lack knowledge about building reinforcement options.

A psychological dimension is also evident. While 60.3 percent believe personal precautions can reduce earthquake impact, 39.7 percent say that outcomes cannot meaningfully be changed. Fatalistic attitudes are notably higher among respondents with lower education levels, reaching 52.3 percent among those with primary education or below, compared to 27.3 percent among university graduates.

The study’s central finding is not a lack of awareness. It is a gap between awareness and implementation.

Experience with earthquakes is widespread. Risk perception is high. Concern is measurable. Yet structural risk assessments, household mitigation steps and insurance coverage remain uneven.

In a country where seismic risk is part of the structural reality, the data suggests that knowledge alone has not translated into consistent preventive behavior.