Turkey’s first Chemical Specialized Organized Industrial Zone, GEBKİM OSB, hosted a disaster preparedness and commemoration event on the 27th anniversary of the August 17, 1999 Marmara Earthquake. The gathering aimed to strengthen crisis response capabilities and raise awareness among industrial facilities and workforce personnel.
Held at the GEBKİM OSB Conference Hall, the event was attended by representatives of GEBKİM tenant companies, neighboring organized industrial zones, and relevant units of Dilovası Municipality. The program commenced with a moment of silence for those who lost their lives in the 1999 disaster.
Comparative Evaluation of Earthquake Management by Moriwaki
Guest speaker and Japanese Earthquake Expert Yoshinori Moriwaki delivered a presentation evaluating Turkey’s seismic fault lines and historical earthquakes. Comparing disaster approaches between Japan and Turkey, Moriwaki emphasized building structural integrity, disaster preparedness culture, continuous training, and individual awareness. He highlighted the criticality of institutional emergency action plans, rapid response capacities, and routine drills for industrial facilities.
Disaster Readiness Initiatives at GEBKİM OSB
Concrete readiness measures implemented by GEBKİM OSB were presented during the meeting:
Search and Rescue Operations: Formation of a 27-member GEBKİM Search and Rescue Team, whose AFAD certifications and training were completed alongside GEBKİM Fire Department personnel.
Emergency Infrastructure: Fully equipped earthquake containers were deployed, featuring search-and-rescue equipment, emergency shelter tents, and a dedicated Chemical Decontamination Tent.
RESMAR Project & Continuity: A comprehensive Business Continuity Plan was established under the AFAD-led RESMAR Project to safeguard production across Marmara industrial zones post-disaster.
Emergency Software & Training: Approximately 2,000 personnel received training on the integrated Emergency Response Software.
Executive Statement from Chairman Vefa İbrahim Aracı
Vefa İbrahim Aracı, Chairman of the Board of GEBKİM Chemical Specialized OIZ, stated:
Past earthquake experiences have shown us that disaster preparedness is a long-term responsibility encompassing both life and production. We must take steps today to make our living spaces, cities, and industrial zones more resilient. Organized Industrial Zones undertake vital responsibilities after disasters due to their organized structure alongside manufacturing and employment. Having business continuity plans ready is essential for maintaining uninterrupted production and protecting supply chains.
We adopt Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s principle that 'Every factory is a fortress' as a guiding vision at GEBKİM. Ensuring our factories, workforce, and production infrastructure are prepared for disasters is vital for protecting our country's economic strength. At GEBKİM, we maintain our efforts spanning training, drills, search-and-rescue capacities, and business continuity with this responsibility.
