As the 27th anniversary of the devastating 1999 Marmara earthquake approaches, a recent opinion poll has highlighted significant anxiety among Istanbul's inhabitants regarding the possibility of another major seismic event. The Marmara earthquake, which struck with a magnitude of 7.4, remains a chilling memory for many.

The survey, conducted by the Istanbul Planning Agency (İPA) under the auspices of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, has shed light on these concerns. According to the findings from the July Agenda Research, a substantial 69.6% of respondents believe that Istanbul is at risk of experiencing a powerful earthquake in the near future. Furthermore, 70.8% expressed deep apprehension about this potential threat.

The study gathered responses from 751 individuals through direct telephone interviews, and it revealed particular demographic trends. Young adults aged between 18 and 35 exhibited the highest levels of concern. Additionally, women appeared more worried than men, with 78% of female participants expressing anxiety compared to 63.5% of male respondents.

In terms of natural disasters that cause the most fear in Istanbul, earthquakes overwhelmingly topped the list with 91.5%. This concern far exceeds fears related to other natural hazards such as fires, wildfires, floods, and landslides.

Despite these heightened fears, there exists a notable disparity in preparedness levels among residents. The survey results indicated that 50.9% of participants have not taken any preventive or preparatory measures to deal with an earthquake scenario.

Among those who have taken precautions, preparing an emergency earthquake kit was the most common action, undertaken by 28.5% of respondents. Other measures included assessing the earthquake resistance and structural integrity of homes (18.4%) and securing heavy furniture and appliances (10.1%).

Further preventive actions included knowing emergency gathering points (10%), enrolling in mandatory or private earthquake insurance (9.1%), developing a family communication plan for emergencies (7.9%), and identifying evacuation routes within buildings (6%).

This report underscores the pressing need for increased awareness and preparedness among Istanbul's residents as they face potential seismic threats.