Earthquake shakes Istanbul, reveals urgent need for renovations
More than a thousand people have taken shelter in mosques and schools in Istanbul following the earthquake that struck the city this week. Turkish authorities are urgently calling for the renovation of vulnerable buildings.
Istanbul and surrounding provinces experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 on Wednesday, April 23rd. The quake was the strongest in years and was followed by more than 200 weaker aftershocks.
Drama in Istanbul
Social media footage shows Istanbul residents, worried about the situation, quickly leaving their apartments and buildings. Videos from inside homes depict cabinets, flowers, and chandeliers shaking, with picture frames and other decorations falling off shelves.
No fatalities have been reported, but hundreds of people have been hospitalized due to injuries sustained from jumping out of windows and balconies.
Temporary shelters
Thousands of residents spent the night outdoors, and more than a thousand people remain in temporary accommodations such as schools and mosques. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that emergency shelter has been provided for over 100,000 residents in Istanbul.
Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Murat Kurum emphasized that 1.5 million buildings in Istanbul are at risk, with 30% of them requiring immediate renovation. "The sole focus of Istanbul must be preparing for an earthquake because time is running out," Kurum stated.
Memories of tragic events
Wednesday's tremors brought back memories of past tragic events. In February 2023, an earthquake in southern Turkey killed over 53,000 people. In 1999, 17,000 people died near Istanbul. The current events remind us of the need to prepare the city for future disasters.
