Turkish authorities have announced their intention to begin preparations in Istanbul for a possible devastating earthquake, which has been a subject of concern among seismologists. Minister of Environment and Urban Development Mehmet Ozhaseki made this announcement during a press conference on Wednesday.
"We have met with Mr. Ekrem Imamoglu, the Mayor of Istanbul, and district officials to discuss the potential earthquake scenario in Istanbul, and we have reached a preliminary agreement. We will commence our work to prepare for the impact of the disaster starting next week," Ozhaseki stated.
According to the minister, Istanbul ranks among the top 10 riskiest cities in the world in terms of seismic danger. Ozhaseki emphasized that the issue of earthquake danger goes beyond politics and requires immediate action. He revealed that "out of the 5.8 million independent buildings in Istanbul, 1.5 million are at risk, with 600,000 considered to be at high risk."
Seismologist Naji Gorur predicted on July 12 that the Sea of Marmara region, where Istanbul is located, could experience tremors ranging from magnitude 7.2 to 7.6. Earlier warnings from seismologists have consistently highlighted the potential for a strong earthquake in the Istanbul area, which lies on the fault line between the Anatolian and Eurasian tectonic plates. In the event of such a seismic event, it is estimated that approximately 90,000 buildings could collapse, 260,000 buildings would be damaged and rendered uninhabitable, and temporary housing would be required for 4.5 million residents of the metropolis.
Following devastating earthquakes in southeastern Turkey in February, which claimed the lives of over 50,000 people, local authorities stressed the need to resettle at least 1.5 million homes in Istanbul. Plans are underway to create satellite cities in both the European and Asian parts of Istanbul, with each designed to accommodate 500,000 people.
In August 1999, a powerful earthquake measuring 7.6 struck the Istanbul area, with its epicenter located in the town of Izmit, 80 km away. The earthquake triggered a tsunami in the Sea of Marmara. Official figures report a death toll of 17,200, while unofficial estimates suggest it could be as high as 40,000, with an additional 45,000 people injured.
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Based on materials from TASS