Earthquake in Istanbul: Urgency for building renovations
Over a thousand people have found shelter in mosques and schools in Istanbul after the earthquake that struck the city this week. Turkish authorities are urging the urgent renovation of endangered buildings.
Istanbul and the surrounding provinces experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 on Wednesday, 23rd April. The tremors were the strongest in years, followed by more than 200 weaker aftershocks.
Drama in Istanbul
Social media footage shows Istanbul residents, concerned about the situation, exiting their apartments and buildings en masse. Videos from inside homes show cabinets, flowers, and chandeliers shaking, with picture frames and other decorations falling off the shelves.
No fatalities have been reported, but hundreds of people have been hospitalised due to injuries sustained from jumping out of windows and balconies.
Temporary shelters
Thousands of residents spent the night outside, and over a thousand people are still in temporary accommodation points 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, Urbanisation, and Climate Change Murat Kurum emphasised 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 are a reminder of the need to prepare the city for future disasters.
