Minister Mehmet Özhaseki provides figures regarding the expected Istanbul earthquake

Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Mehmet Özhaseki stated in a broadcast on tv100 that 600,000 residences in Istanbul must be transformed urgently.

Addressing mayors, Minister Özhaseki said, "I am stating this very clearly here: regardless of which party our mayor belongs to, as long as they come for urban transformation, we are ready to share our resources to the fullest extent."

Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Mehmet Özhaseki answered questions from Başak Şengül in a special interview on tv100.

Highlights from Minister Mehmet Özhaseki's statements:

"THERE IS NO OBJECTION"

When financial matters come up in our cabinet, Mehmet Şimşek shows a reflex, saying, 'We cannot allocate that money there.' There is a strict austerity measure and monetary policy in place. Whoever is in that position would do the same. When it comes to the earthquake zone, there is silence from everyone; they say 'okay,' and there is no objection. It is 100 billion dollars, which is easy to say. 

"WE HAVE DECLARED A MOBILIZATION"

A lady in Gaziantep stopped me and said, 'I want a place from the houses you are building.' I replied, 'You are a right-holder, we are holding a lottery, and we will give you whatever place you draw.' She said, 'I lost my husband and my two children; they are lying in the cemetery across the street. I will get up every day to greet them and visit them.' Truly, tears continue to flow everywhere we go. As a ministry, we have declared a mobilization for the past 14 months, working day and night to heal the wounds. 

"WE HAVE DELIVERED 76 THOUSAND HOMES"

We have delivered 76,000 homes so far. We will start holding new lotteries in a month. We will continue to hold lotteries every month for around 10,000, 15,000, or 20,000 homes, reaching 200,000 by the end of the year. We have 1,240 construction sites in all earthquake-affected regions. We are working with an army of 110,000 people. Additionally, we are building village houses in 4,333 villages.

"FOR URBAN TRANSFORMATION..."

There is only one way to carry out urban transformation correctly and quickly. A tripartite group must come together. One is the ministry; we and our team are ready. The money and land are ready. The second pillar of this work is the municipalities. The third pillar is the citizens. 

Our mayors, especially our district mayors, will review their own neighborhoods, identify structures that have become dilapidated or are on the verge of collapse. They will make an effort for their urban transformation, talk to the citizens, and then come to us.

I state very clearly here that no matter which party our mayor belongs to, as long as they come for urban transformation, we are ready to share our resources to the fullest.

DREW ATTENTION TO BUILDINGS AT RISK

Turkey is an earthquake zone. We have cities that have been inhabited for thousands of years. Scientists say that 'there are 5 countries at risk in terms of earthquakes on the line extending from the Himalayas towards the Alps.'

One of them is Turkey. The number of earthquakes with a magnitude of 6 or higher, which we describe as destructive, that have occurred in our seas and on land in the last century is 231. There have been exactly 231 destructive earthquakes in 100 years. The only thing we can do for our ancient cities is urban transformation.

There is no other solution but urban transformation. We must be aware that structures built before 2000, in particular, carry risks. Even if those built before 2000 were constructed correctly in accordance with the regulations of that day, they would not withstand an earthquake of 7.5-8 magnitude.

"THERE ARE AROUND 490 UNBROKEN FAULT LINES"

There are currently around 490 unbroken fault lines in Turkey.

HOW MANY THOUSAND RESIDENCES NEED TO BE TRANSFORMED IN ISTANBUL?

There is an understanding that damage will be greater on the Anatolian side and the part of the European side facing the Marmara Sea. However, if the structure is not in accordance with standards, there is a possibility of damage even if it is far from the sea. Around 600,000 independent units in Istanbul need to be changed as soon as possible.