As the tragic memories of the August 17, 1999, Marmara Earthquake resurface each year, Tavşancıl, a district in Kocaeli’s Dilovası, stands out for its remarkable resilience. The 7.4 magnitude earthquake, which struck at 03:02 AM and lasted 45 seconds, caused widespread devastation in Kocaeli, Yalova, Sakarya, and Düzce, resulting in 18,373 deaths and injuring 48,901 people, according to a 2010 Parliamentary report. The quake damaged over 285,000 homes and 42,000 businesses.
While neighboring areas were heavily damaged, Tavşancıl remained untouched, with not a single brick displaced. This remarkable survival is attributed to the strict zoning plan implemented by Salih Gün, the town’s mayor elected in 1989. After consulting with scientists and conducting ground surveys with experts from Kocaeli University, Gün limited construction in Tavşancıl to no more than 2.5 floors, a decision that ultimately saved the town from disaster.
Mert Gürenç