Adana residents protest pothole crisis on roads serving new earthquake homes

After the February 6 earthquakes, the Turkish government rapidly completed thousands of TOKİ housing units for displaced families in Adana's Karahan neighbourhood. Residents say the municipal road leading to the new homes and onward to Karaisalı remains riddled with deep potholes, causing frequent tire punctures.

Villagers have taken matters into their own hands, stuffing tires and sandbags into the holes to protect their vehicles while demanding that the Adana Metropolitan Municipality repair the roads. One resident, Tacettin Dingiz, complained, “The state built the houses, but the municipality can’t build the roads. The potholes must be fixed; otherwise we will continue to suffer.” Another, Aziz Yıldız, added that the road conditions are so poor that officials should be forced to drive their own cars on them. Municipal officials have so far not resolved the issue despite repeated appeals.

The protest highlights ongoing challenges in post‑earthquake reconstruction, where speedy housing delivery has outpaced essential infrastructure repairs.