Saving Istanbul or selling it? 'Kanal Istanbul'

Every day, Istanbul moves one step closer to a major earthquake. Scientists have almost unanimously identified where the major earthquake will occur and which regions it will affect, down to the neighborhood and house level.

With such a clear and vital reality at hand, and while Istanbul is not yet prepared for an earthquake, the construction of Kanal Istanbul has been started rapidly!

While Istanbul's fault lines are counting down like a silent but deadly clock, why cling passionately to a project that will disrupt the ecological balance, threaten historical structures, increase population density, and consume the state's resources and energy instead of starting to take vital precautions?

While ways should be sought to quickly make Istanbul an earthquake-resilient city, why the insistence on "Kanal Istanbul"?

When we look at the technical details of the project, an artificial waterway is planned to be opened between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara.

Geologists have prepared reports stating that there are seismically sensitive areas along the project's route, even if they are not active. They have expressed that it carries significant risks.

Most importantly, the North Anatolian Fault, which is expected to produce the major earthquake under the Sea of Marmara, is located just south of Kanal Istanbul. Earthquake experts warn that large-scale excavations in this region will create changes in groundwater balances and that the changes that occur could affect seismic activity.

At the same time, opening the northern regions, which are less risky in terms of earthquakes, to construction means losing the last safe areas that nature has offered us.

Kanal Istanbul may be defended in different ways from economic or geopolitical perspectives. However, when the reality of an earthquake enters the equation, increasing the burden on a fragile city like Istanbul is more of a dangerous gamble than a bold vision! Turkey does not have the strength to afford this gamble.

On one side is the safety of millions of people, and on the other is the love of rent and concrete!

Serving the homeland requires prioritizing investments that save lives and protect people. Not producing luxury projects for Qataris.

Serving the homeland means implementing an emergency plan that will save as many lives as possible in the major earthquake awaiting Istanbul.

Because today, Istanbul's priority is not flashy, luxury projects, but becoming an earthquake-resilient, safe city that will save the lives of the millions it houses!

The millions of people living in Istanbul do not need Kanal Istanbul; they need safe buildings that will protect them and from which they will emerge intact.

True service to the homeland is putting people's safety and quality of life above everything else!