The February 2023 earthquakes in Turkey and Syria killed tens of thousands of people, with many buildings collapsing, even modern structures. Experts believe the shallow intensity of the two earthquakes was more than older buildings could withstand. This raises questions about the quality of building materials and building code adherence in modern construction. The only way to withstand the load is through building design and materials. In Turkey, there was a 7.8-magnitude strike about 11 miles deep, and a 7 5.5-mile deep quake about five miles deep. However, John Hooper, director of earthquake engineering for Magnusson Klemencic Associates, said modern buildings should be able to handle such intense loads. To improve the life safety of a building, concrete columns require steel running along their vertical length to ensure that even if the building becomes too damaged for use after an earthquake, it doesn't fall.