What are you doing to save Istanbul?

For the people of Hatay, until the morning of February 6, an earthquake was nothing more than a fairy tale passed down from grandfather to grandchild, saying, “Hatay was destroyed 7 times and was reborn from its ashes 7 times.” The expected Istanbul earthquake is not a fairy tale; it is too serious and real to be left to fate!

*Istanbul's contribution to the Turkish economy is worth 68 cities!

*48.2 percent of tax revenues are covered by Istanbul.

*Istanbul provides 49 percent of total foreign trade.

*62 percent of foreign-capital companies are based in Istanbul!

*If Turkey consisted of 100 people, 19 would be living in Istanbul.

*Out of every 100 foreign tourists coming to Turkey, 35 choose Istanbul.

*30 liras of every 100 liras of national income produced in Turkey are generated in Istanbul.

*Istanbul-based firms conducted 49 dollars of every 100 dollars of foreign trade.

*48 liras of every 100 liras of tax revenue paid by the business world were collected in Istanbul.

*38 of every 100 corporate tax payers in Turkey are located in Istanbul.

*24 of every 100 insured employees were employed in Istanbul.

*18 out of every 100 residences were sold in Istanbul. 38 out of every 100 foreigners chose Istanbul for their housing preference.

*40 of every 100 liras of bank loans were utilized in Istanbul. Likewise, 41 liras of every 100 liras of deposits are held in the Istanbul branches of banks.

*41 of every 100 companies were established in Istanbul.

*19 of every 100 motor vehicles carry an Istanbul license plate. (Source: The 100 of Istanbul's Economy research, ITO - 2022)

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Istanbul means Turkey! Everyone knows this.

A great danger awaits Istanbul. Everyone knows this, too.

The danger awaiting Istanbul is a great danger that will also threaten the Republic of Turkey!

The expected great Istanbul earthquake has been anticipated since 1999. It was first voiced by the late Prof. Dr. Aykut Barka. After the Gölcük earthquake, earth scientists, earthquake engineers, and civil engineers all spoke with one voice about the approaching Istanbul earthquake. They even shouted it out. They said, “The Marmara is under threat, take urgent measures.” In 2000, they conducted research in the Sea of Marmara with French, German, and Japanese scientists. It was proven that a great Istanbul earthquake would occur! The fault line, which has not broken since 1766, has also completed its recurrence period. Not only Turkish scientists but all scientists conducting research in this field around the world are issuing warnings.

IF ISTANBUL COLLAPSES, TURKEY COLLAPSES!

Prof. Dr. Naci Görür reiterated that the expected great Istanbul earthquake would be many times larger than the February 6 earthquake that devastated 11 provinces, that an “abnormal” destruction would occur, and he confessed that it keeps him awake at night. While this threat keeps an idealistic scientist who has dedicated his years to earthquake research awake, does it also keep the leaders of Turkey, the President and the Presidential government, the parliament, the Metropolitan Mayor and his team who manage Istanbul, TÜSİAD, the Central Bank, those serving in NGOs responsible for Istanbul such as ISO, ITO, and TMMOB, and even those living in Istanbul awake?

Regardless of political views—whether pro-government, opposition, Alevi, Sunni, Kurdish, Turkish, refugee, poor, wealthy, old, young, baby, educated, uneducated, young people who dream about their future or those who do not, women, men—we are facing a great danger that threatens every person who carries the identity of the Republic of Turkey. Unfortunately, no one other than scientists is talking about it.

10 months have passed since the February 6 disaster. All those who govern the country saw how Hatay was razed to the ground. The population of Hatay is equal to the population of two large districts of Istanbul.

How will Istanbul, which surrenders to traffic in a light rain, cope with the great destruction, the stampede, fires, and many other issues that will occur after a major collapse that are not being explained to the public?

Have the bridges providing connection to the Anatolian side been reinforced? Will three bridges be enough to provide an escape in a stampede? Is the naval fleet ready to transport people by sea and be turned into a hospital for the wounded? Has any preparation been made within the armed forces for an Istanbul earthquake? Have volunteers in Anatolia been mobilized for an Istanbul earthquake? From where and in what way will aid come to Istanbul? Is this plan ready?

The expected Istanbul earthquake is a serious and vital issue that cannot be left to the responsibility of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Naci Görür said, “Istanbul is committing suicide.”

Everyone who drives Istanbul to suicide is guilty!

For the people of Hatay, until the morning of February 6, an earthquake was nothing more than a fairy tale passed down from grandfather to grandchild, saying, “Hatay was destroyed 7 times and was reborn from its ashes 7 times.”... The expected Istanbul earthquake is not a fairy tale; it is too serious and real to be left to fate!

If the expected danger keeps Professor Naci awake, it is time for all of us to wake up from our sleep! From today on, not only the people of Istanbul but all citizens should lose sleep and urgently ask those responsible:

“What are you doing to save Istanbul?”