Erdogan: 214,000 residential buildings subject to emergency demolition in disaster areas

There are already 214,000 residential buildings on the lists for emergency demolition in disaster areas in Türkiye, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during the first meeting called “Turkish National Risk Shield”, Report informs referring to Anadolu Agency.

He noted that the devastating earthquakes directly affected the lives of about 14 million people and 3.5 million people had to migrate to other parts of the country. Therefore, the purpose of the meeting is to increase preparedness for natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, fires, etc., he said.

He noted that when planning the development of cities destroyed after the biggest earthquakes, priority will be given to sites in the highlands, and not in the lowlands. The restoration of settlements and steps to counteract disasters will take into account the preservation of the historical and cultural appearance of cities.

“All state structures of the country are involved in the elimination of the consequences of the disaster. The number of housing to be built in cities and villages in the disaster zones will be determined after the completion of the damage assessment. Houses in the disaster zone will be built within a year through the Housing Development Administration of Türkiye (TOKI). The buildings will not exceed several floors, and the apartments will be four-room,” the president said.

He added that it is necessary to discuss not only measures to eliminate the consequences of the disaster in the provinces of the south and southeast of the country, but also the work that needs to be done in other earthquake-prone areas of Türkiye.

On February 6, two earthquakes of magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 occurred in the southeast of Türkiye.