Minister: 118,000 buildings collapsed, severely damaged in earthquake zone

Photo: AA

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About 118,000 buildings in the region affected by the February 6 Maraş earthquakes have collapsed, are severely damaged or should be demolished urgently, the minister of environment has announced.

The authorities have inspected 927,000 buildings with 3.5 million independent units in the 11 provinces affected by the earthquakes, Murat Kurum said late yesterday (February 19) in the southeastern province of Antep, where he visited to oversee the establishment of a container city for earthquake survivors.

In the province, some 16,000 buildings have collapsed or are severely damaged, according to the minister.

The largest housing construction in the history of the republic will follow the earthquakes, Kurum promised, adding that new buildings will not have more than three or floors. (AÖ/VK)