Marmara Region

Over 225,000 people have applied for the housing project, which aims to help low-income citizens own houses and tackle problems regarding property prices and rents, on the first day of its launch, Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum has said.

"Applications for land and industrial workplaces will be made between Oct. 10 and Nov. 7," Kurum said.

Amid allegations that the Maiden's Tower, one of Istanbul's landmarks, is being demolished, the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums have announced that the historical structure is undergoing renovation and will serve as a museum next year, denying all rumors.

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

The Bosphorus is closed because a cargo ship with Ukrainian grain got stuck

The Bosphorus Strait is closed to vessels in both directions because of a stuck cargo ship carrying grain from Ukraine to Italy. This was announced by the Turkish Coast Guard Directorate.

Turkish people celebrate Victory Day on Aug. 30, marking the 100th anniversary of when Turkish armies succeeded in the Great Offensive under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Türkiye, against occupying Greek forces on the same date in 1922.

A total of 788,241 people have visited the Çamlıca Tower, a telecommunications tower with observation decks and restaurants, in Istanbul's Üsküdar district, since its official opening in May 2021, the country's transport and infrastructure minister has said.

"The tower hosted 455,945 people between Jan. 1 and Aug. 20, 2022," Adil Karaismailoğlu said in a written statement on Aug. 21.

The victims of the 1999 Marmara earthquake, the worst seismic disaster in the history of modern Türkiye, were remembered in the country's northwestern provinces on Aug. 17.

Torrential rains have lashed several parts of Türkiye, with the metropolitan city of Istanbul bearing the brunt the most as its world-famous Grand Bazaar has filled with flood water.

Following the torrential rain warnings issued for 17 provinces, including Istanbul, the expected rain hit the metropolitan city on Aug. 15.

Paşabahçe, a legendary ferry built in 1952, has sailed its premier voyage in the Bosphorus after a two-year restoration.

The ferry, which was first built as a warship, and was later turned into a ferry cruising on the Bosphorus, was fully restored by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

Treasure hunters have looted a secret underground tunnel in Istanbul's Üsküdar district, a cave researcher has said.

Speaking with the İhlas News Agency, Fatih Bayrak highlighted that the 500-meter-long tunnel starts in the Çengelköy neighborhood and ends in the Kuzguncuk neighborhood.

Fire blazing at Istanbul Balikli Greek Hospital. Photo: Istanbul Municipality

Istanbul city authorities confirmed that there were no deaths and injuries. The fire was under control by late Thursday night.