24.04.2025 12:40
Minister Murat Kurum, who made a statement regarding the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Istanbul, said, "7 of our buildings have minor damage, and there is no other damage reported. An abandoned building collapsed in Fatih. We are continuing our fieldwork. There are no medium or heavily damaged buildings."
```html
An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 occurred off the coast of Silivri in the Sea of Marmara yesterday at 12:49. Following the tremor, a total of 266 aftershocks were recorded by 09:00 today, the largest being 5.9. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya and Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum are evaluating the latest situation regarding the earthquake.
MINISTER KURUM: 7 BUILDINGS SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE, NO MODERATE OR HEAVY DAMAGE BUILDINGS
In his statement, Minister Kurum said: "Yesterday afternoon, we all experienced anxiety and fear due to the 6.2 magnitude earthquake. May God protect our country and our nation from all kinds of disasters. As soon as we received news of the earthquake, we immediately moved to the disaster area. We went to the AFAD Center with our ministers and held our meeting. We made efforts to inform our citizens transparently.
AFAD coordination services were activated in our 39 districts through our district governorships. We received 1399 reports of buildings. Teams conducted their inspections. 7 of our buildings sustained minor damage, and there is no other damage reported. An abandoned building collapsed in Fatih. We continue our field studies. A team of 3,000 damage assessment personnel will carry out these inspections by going to the locations throughout Istanbul. We have initiated inspections for 28,500 public buildings. We are doing this as a precaution.
We have conducted inspections of dormitories. No damage was detected in the dormitories. Today, we will also inspect our hospitals. We will inform the public transparently.
"ISTANBUL'S ONLY AGENDA SHOULD BE 'EARTHQUAKE'"
The greatest reality of our country is the earthquake. 70% of the population lives in earthquake-prone areas. We all experienced the pain of February 6 together. We know how to unite in the earthquakes we experience. Unfortunately, 3-5 days after the earthquake, we forget the reality of earthquakes and do not act based on this reality. Risky buildings kill; we said let’s transform them. We initiated urban transformation, stating that we will transform them regardless of the cost.
We all know that there are 1.5 million buildings in Istanbul that need to be transformed. We have no time to lose regarding this situation. It is not something that can be postponed. Istanbul's only agenda must now be the earthquake.
While we are carrying out urban transformation, we are also working on a social housing project. We are continuing the construction of 44,610 houses that we promised to deliver to citizens without homes. We take this issue seriously. TOKI buildings did not collapse in the earthquake. We will manage this process with the views of scientists with the same understanding. We will be more determined. We must take stronger projects together. In May 2023, we launched our historic campaign for the return of Istanbulites, the "Half is Ours" campaign. 21,000 houses are being transformed within this scope.
"LET'S JOIN HANDS FOR ISTANBUL"
In summary, the state is working with all its power and all its ministries to prepare Istanbul for earthquakes and to save Istanbul. We want to express this to our municipalities, which are directly responsible for earthquake transformation; time is valuable for Istanbul. It is expected that we urgently focus on this issue, leaving politics aside. There is no politics here; there is no room for political maneuvering. It is time to join hands. Today's negligence will be tomorrow's disaster. If we are late, our loss will be very great. Protecting this city is a valuable duty. Today, let’s join hands together, let’s set aside political polemics. Let’s start the mobilization to save Istanbul together. Let’s save Istanbul together.
MINISTER YERLIKAYA: NO INJURIES DUE TO EARTHQUAKE
Minister Yerlikaya made the following statements: "Field scans and reports received by our 112 Emergency Call Center were evaluated. Thank God, there were no casualties. There are no injured citizens (due to the earthquake). There are no injuries caused by the earthquake. We received 16,712 calls. Of these, 995 were emergency assistance requests related to the earthquake. We have deployed 903 vehicles and 11,482 personnel. 27 logistics depots have been activated for shelter. 51,000 citizens who requested shelter were accommodated in mosques, and nearly 50,000 citizens were housed in schools and dormitories. We reached 99 catering vehicles belonging to the Red Crescent, 286 vehicles, and 1,508 personnel and volunteers. Soup, food packages, and water were distributed at 308 distribution points.
I would like to thank each of my colleagues as a minister. Our state is standing strong with all its institutions. Our security units waited tirelessly for the safety of our citizens who could not return to their homes.
Late last night, the statement from our AFAD Science Board was made. We strongly request that people do not enter buildings that are considered risky and to call 112 to provide information, and to remain vigilant against aftershocks.
We ask our citizens to pay attention to the statements of official institutions. Please do not trust unverified information. Once again, we extend our best wishes for a speedy recovery.
```