The Chamber of Civil Engineers (IMO), belonging to the Turkish Engineers and Architects Chambers Union (TMMOB) Van Branch sent a team of 74 people to assess the damage in the earthquake area. Mihail Atik, Head of the Van Branch, said that the entire team consists of civil engineers and emphasized that their aim is to work to meet the housing needs of the people as soon as possible.

Atik said: “The team will return after having worked in the area. After that, if there is a demand, we will send the friends back again to take part in the damage assessment. There were 2 earthquakes in a row and therefore the destruction caused was great. We want to determine the causes and consequences of this destruction."

Atik said that tens of thousands of buildings were destroyed after the earthquake and that many buildings were damaged, and added: "We have to determine the damage in the buildings and assess whether they can be saved. The work will be processed into the data of the Ministry. After these studies and data are collected, the final decision will be made by the relevant institution. Our aim is to speed up the process and to provide people with housing as soon as possible."