Risk Prioritization of RC Buildings in Bitlis (Türkiye) in the Light of the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes

Widespread casualties and property damage due to structural failures following devastating earthquakes have once again highlighted the critical significance of evaluating the seismic performance of existing buildings. In this context, a fundamental part of modern pre-disaster management is to evaluate the potential seismic risks of existing structures and implementing the necessary precautions. This study focuses on determining regional risk priorities using a rapid assessment methodology applied to a sample of reinforced-concrete (RC) structures in the Centre of Bitlis city, situated in the high-seismic-risk Lake Van Basin. Risk prioritization was made among the buildings based on the Turkish Rapid Assessment technique revised in 2019 for 100 different RC buildings with one to seven stories. The negative parameters utilized in this method were analyzed both in relation to the 6 February 2023, Kahramanmaraş earthquakes and the assessed building stock. Additionally, the study provides a comprehensive review of the existing building inventory across the region and offers recommendations for potential precautions to mitigate earthquake risks.