Türkiye Built Over 455,000 Buildings in Earthquake Zones

Why this is here: The social housing initiative aims to deliver 600,000 housing units total, spanning all of Türkiye’s 81 provinces and focusing heavily on Istanbul.

Hasan Suver, Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, announced the construction of over 455,000 buildings in areas prone to earthquakes. He presented this information at the 13th World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan, on May 20. These new buildings include not only homes but also integrated infrastructure, social facilities, and green spaces.

Türkiye also launched a social housing initiative to build 500,000 units across all 81 provinces, with an additional 100,000 planned for Istanbul. The World Urban Forum, running from May 18 to May 22, has drawn over 40,000 participants from 182 countries. Discussions at the forum cover topics from housing crises to sustainable transport.

The forum’s program includes events on climate resilience and artificial intelligence, but it remains to be seen how these discussions translate into concrete action. The event continues in Baku as officials seek to strengthen global cooperation on urban development.