04.02.2025 11:20
The Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, made statements regarding the occurrence of more than 500 earthquakes in the Aegean Sea in the last week. Minister Kurum said, "We are all monitoring the unstoppable tremors in the Aegean. These earthquakes are concentrated in the area where the volcano on Santorini Island is located. A similar activity has resumed and is causing tremors."
The earthquake storm that has been ongoing around Greece's Santorini Island for the past week has caused panic. Over 500 earthquakes have been recorded in the region, with the largest reaching magnitudes of 5.2 and 4.9. Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis has called on the public to remain calm, while thousands are leaving the islands. This earthquake storm, which has caused panic, is also being closely monitored from Turkey. The latest statement on the matter came from the Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, Murat Kurum.
Minister Kurum, recalling the earthquakes of February 6, stated, "We are candidates to be the brothers of the earthquake region. Their happiness and hope for the future are more important to us than anything else. The name of our meeting right now is the revival of the century. In our 11 provinces, we are not only rebuilding homes but also historical and cultural sites in a way that is both architectural and suitable for the needs of the region. We said we would not displace anyone from their neighborhood, and we are working with this understanding. The Anatolian geography is a geography of earthquakes. We do not want any of our mothers to wait for their children at the rubble. We have witnessed a lot of these pains." he said.
EARTHQUAKES IN THE AEGEAN
Kurum continued his remarks as follows:
We are all watching the unstoppable tremors in the Aegean together. These earthquakes are concentrated in the area where the volcano on Santorini Island is located. A similar activity has started again and is causing tremors. This is the message given by both the spontaneously collapsing buildings and the unstoppable tremors. This message was clear; it has once again shown us how urgent our struggle for earthquake preparedness is.
CALL FOR URBAN TRANSFORMATION IN ISTANBUL
Istanbul does not have the strength to withstand a new earthquake, nor does our country. Out of 7.5 million homes in Istanbul, 1.5 million are at high risk. There are 600,000 houses in Istanbul that urgently need to be demolished. We must accelerate the transformation practices we have initiated in Istanbul. As a state, we are trying to do our part.
We now ask the municipalities responsible for urban transformation to leave aside all other agendas and unnecessary discussions. Everyone should do their part together. As a state, we will not leave the field for even a single minute. We will continue to fight for transformation day and night.
SOCIAL HOUSING PROJECTS
We had promised good news to low-income citizens. Our President had announced that social housing projects would be carried out. Now, to keep our promise, we have sent our social housing general directive to the governorships, asking them to identify the lands where social housing will be built. We will continue to take steps to meet the housing needs of our nation.