At 04:17 TRT (01:17 UTC) on February 2023, , a 7.8 earthquake struck southern and central Turkey and northern and western Syria. Its epicenter was 37 km (23 mi) west–northwest of Gaziantep . Upto three weeks after this earthquake, more than 10,000 aftershocks occurred. This seismic sequence was the result of shallow strike-slip faulting.More than 60000 died and more than 14 million people were affected .

This earthquake in Turkey has demonstrated the level of venerability of our buildings. We need to construct earthquake resistant building. Now the question arises that how to do it.

Modern earthquake-resistant building techniques aim to make buildings more resistant to the destructive forces of earthquakes. These building techniques aim to minimize damage to buildings and their occupants during seismic events.

Emergency Manager talked with experts of the earthquake resistant building techniques. We have compiled these recommended techniques for our readers. Some of these techniques include:

1. Base isolation: This involves isolating the building from the ground by placing it on flexible bearings or pads. This allows the building to move with the earthquake motion without suffering damage.
2. Structural control: This involves installing devices or systems that can absorb or dissipate the energy of earthquake waves, such as dampers or shock absorbers.
3. Reinforced concrete construction: This involves reinforcing concrete structures with steel to increase their strength and ductility, allowing them to resist seismic forces better.
4. Steel-frame construction: This involves building structures with a steel frame, which is inherently more ductile and able to flex under seismic loads.
5. Cross-bracing: This involves the use of diagonal steel or concrete elements in the building's structural system to provide additional stiffness and stability.
6. Moment-resisting frames: This involves designing structures with specific structural configurations to resist lateral forces induced by earthquakes.
7. Post-tensioned concrete: This involves using high-strength steel cables to reinforce concrete, creating a structure that is more resistant to seismic forces.
8. Damping systems: Damping systems use devices such as shock absorbers or viscoelastic materials to absorb and dissipate seismic energy, reducing the effects of the earthquake on the building.
9. Mass dampers: Mass dampers are heavy weights that are installed at the top of tall buildings to counteract the swaying motion caused by an earthquake.
10. Active control systems: Active control systems use sensors and actuators to detect and counteract seismic forces in real-time. These systems can be used to minimize the damage caused by earthquakes.

"These are just a few examples of the many techniques used in modern earthquake-resistant building

design. More research on different building materials which are strong, lightweight and cost effective is needed." says Jayant Pandey, renowned expert Disaster Management. . The specific approach taken will depend on the local seismic conditions, building type, and other factors.

(by Dr DK Pandey)