Gov’t kicks off urgent urban transformation for quake-hit cities

In the wake of a 6.8-magnitude earthquake on Jan. 24 that claimed at least 40 lives, the government is set to kick off an urban transformation project in the eastern province of Elazığ after what it saw as a wake-up call following the collapse of several earthquake-prone buildings, vowing to replace them with disaster-resilient buildings.

Speaking at a press conference in Elazığ on Jan. 27, three days after the deadly quake jolted the city, Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum said at least 2,000 new residences will be built as part of the urban transformation project.

"We are starting the production of 2,000 new residences [in southern province of Mardin's Yemişli district]. Field works and planning have started as of today [Jan. 27]," he said.

According to the most recent figures the minister provided, 53 buildings, in Elazığ's center and two districts, have been crashed to the ground. Some 22 out of this figure need to be "urgently demolished," Kurum said. The demolishment of the said buildings started on Jan. 26, he conveyed.

Meanwhile in the nearby province of Malatya, there are 155 damaged buildings, the minister said.

The minister also conveyed that the government will actualize urban transformation projects in both the Mustafa Paşa and Sürsürü neighborhoods of eastern Elazığ. Meetings with citizens concerning the matter has already started, Kurum said.

"We will lay the [constructions'] foundations in February at the latest and deliver the residences by the end of [2020]," he added.

Kurum also said that damage assessment works on 73 buildings near the damaged ones in the Mustafa Kemal neighborhood are ongoing. "We will finalize these works in three days," he added.

The state housing...