20 million citizens in danger in Istanbul: IBB Assembly convenes with earthquake agenda

IBB (Istanbul Municipality) Assembly convened yesterday with a special earthquake agenda. AVCILAR Mayor Turan Hancerli, who had the final say in the parliament, emphasized that 6 million houses in Turkey were at risk and said, “When we make a calculation, 20 million of our citizens are in danger. 1 and a half million of the 6 million houses in Turkey are very risky. This needs to change immediately. Those who were in risky housing in 1999, still live in risky houses.”

50 THOUSAND BUILDINGS WILL BE DEMOLISHED

Good party congressman Gürkan Akın said, “If Istanbul faces the expected 7.5 magnitude earthquake unprepared; buildings collapsed or severely damaged would be 50 thousand, 200 thousand of the building is likely to get middle and higher damage. Estimates have been made that 140 million tons of debris will come out, 40 billion dollars of economic losses will occur, and the southern part of the European side will receive the greatest damage.”

Referring to the examination conducted by IBB on the lands of Istanbul, Gürkan said, “It has been determined that an incredible rent (profit) of 85 billion dollars has been obtained from 130 projects, 78 reinforcement areas and 7 forest areas. Unfortunately, public lands were turned into reconstruction areas for obtaining high incomes by using these special laws, instead of fighting eventual earthquakes.”