Turkey ramps up earthquake preparedness and housing reforms

Geology Professor Osman Bektaş warned that the long‑expected Marmara‑region quake may be smaller than the widely cited 7.4 magnitude, citing international studies that show the fault segment can release energy through creep rather than a single mega‑rupture. On 28 June a shallow 4.0‑magnitude tremor struck Sındırgı in Balıkesir; AFAD reported no casualties or structural damage, but the event underscored the region’s seismic vulnerability.

In response, seismologist Prof. Dr. Naci Görür called for the creation of a dedicated Disaster Ministry and comprehensive micro‑zonation, arguing that city‑wide resilience must go beyond isolated building upgrades. Meanwhile, Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Murat Kurum announced that rental and social housing units will continue to be handed over to families, citing the 2023 earthquakes that left millions homeless. He highlighted a plan to deliver more than 500 000 homes across all provinces by 2027, including the first rent‑control scheme in Istanbul.

The government also intends to launch a Property Value Information Center to curb speculation in the post‑quake real‑estate market, integrating cadastral data and price monitoring to protect buyers and increase tax revenues.