Turkey's Homeowners Largely Uninsured Amid Rising Wildfire Risks

Turkey has roughly 20.6 million homes that could be insured, but only about 58 % carry the mandatory earthquake policy (DASK). Optional comprehensive home insurance that also covers fire, flood, theft and other hazards is held by just around 20 % of households.

Recent forest fires and other natural disasters have underscored the limits of DASK, which only pays for earthquake‑related structural damage and a few directly linked events. Experts warn that without broader coverage families risk losing their homes and savings. Annual premiums for a typical 100‑120 m² house range from 3,000 TL in Anatolian cities to 5,000‑10,000 TL in Istanbul, Ankara and İzmir. Over the past five years more than 3,000 homes have been rendered unusable by fire, highlighting the urgent need for better insurance awareness and uptake.