Türkiye estimates February 2023 quake damage at over $100 billion

Turkish Minister of Environment and Urbanisation Mehmet Ozhaseki has said that the February 2023 earthquake damage in Türkiye amounted to $110 billion.

“The February earthquake damage amounted to $110 billion in Türkiye. Some 66 percent of the Turkish territory and 71 percent of Turkish citizens remain in the seismic risk zone,” Ozhaseki noted, Kommersant reports.

The minister raised this topic when discussing the ministry's 2024 budget in the parliament, adding that the ministry had drawn up a road map as part of preparation for a possible earthquake in Istanbul.

“It envisages the renovation of 1.5 million buildings over five years,” Ozhaseki stressed.

He added that territories have already been selected where about 300,000 houses are planned to be built at the initial stage.

The minister did not disclose when this work should be completed.

Earthquakes measuring 7.6 and 7.7 were registered in southeastern Türkiye on February 6. Tremors were also felt in Syria. According to official data, more than 17,000 people died. The earthquakes occurred again on the border of the two countries on February 20. The UN said that the total damage could exceed $100 billion. The Association of Turkish Travel Agencies proposed to make earthquake-resistant certificates for hotels.