Post-Earthquake Damage Assessment Process and Problems in Turkey: A Case Study in Van Province

This article presents the current post-earthquake damage assessment procedure in Turkey, and is based on the experience in the province of Van after the earthquakes in late 2011. The damage assessments were conducted mainly by the state with the collaboration of the Chamber of Architects in Turkey. It is aimed at explaining how the damage surveys are conducted and what problems occurred during and after the completion of the assessments. The differences and similarities between other countries' post-earthquake damage assessment practices are also examined by comparing them and giving some examples.