AFAD personnel are providing earthquake training in Manyas.

Training is being provided in Manyas district of Balıkesir by personnel from the Balıkesir Provincial Disaster and Emergency Directorate (AFAD) for two days, both theoretical and practical. Manyas district, located in the first-degree earthquake zone, is receiving theoretical and practical training on natural disasters by AFAD personnel for institution managers, village headmen, and other public and private sector employees. While theoretical training is being conducted in the Mufti meeting hall, practical training is taking place in the courtyard of the Manyas central Çarşı mosque. The training sessions, supported and attended by Manyas District Governor Emre Yeşil, demonstrate the initial procedures, protection methods during natural disasters, and setting up tents in case of a disaster. AFAD Provincial Director Bayram Şahin stated that as part of the ‘Turkey Ready for Disasters’ project in 2013, there should be preparations before disasters, interventions during disasters, and post-disaster recovery efforts, also mentioning that 2021 was declared as the Disaster Awareness Year. It was noted that in Balıkesir, search and rescue training was provided to 1120 personnel in honor of the Republic’s 100th anniversary. Manyas District Governor Emre Yeşil visited the AFAD Provincial Directorate and requested an increase in awareness, leading to the initiation of new training programs in Manyas. Disaster awareness, pre-earthquake, post-earthquake, and during-earthquake trainings were conducted in Manyas due to the presence of the Manyas-Gönen-Yenice fault line, emphasizing the importance of the training. It was mentioned that there are two earthquake measurement stations in Manyas and 432 in Balıkesir. Şahin stated that there are 1639 Disaster and Emergency Gathering Areas in Balıkesir, with 50 of them located in Manyas, also indicating that these areas can be viewed via e-government. Manyas District Governor Emre Yeşil expressed, ‘Unfortunately, our Manyas district is in a first-degree earthquake zone, therefore, we requested training from our AFAD Provincial Directorate to raise awareness among our citizens about earthquakes and to keep earthquakes on the agenda. They kindly came to our district and provided training for two days. I thank them and all participants.’