650,000 people still live in container homes in Turkey's quake zone
Despite two years having passed since the Turkey's 2023 earthquakes, nearly 650,000 people have been still living in container cities across the 11 affected provinces.
Duvar English
As of February 2025, a total of 649,632 people have been still living in container cities built for temporary accommodation after Feb. 6, 2023 earthquakes, according to the Disaster And Emergency Management Presidency's (AFAD) report on the Southeastern Turkey affected by the disastrous quakes.
The daily BirGün reported on a special section of AFAD’s “Integrated Disaster Management - Efforts in the Disaster Zone” report, focusing on the ongoing conditions in these container cities.
Hatay stands out as the province with the highest number of people living in container cities, with 218,379 residents. After the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes, a total of 24,147 people lost their lives according to official statistics in the devastated province, while 80,323 buildings either collapsed or were severely damaged.
In Malatya, 112,726 people, in Adıyaman, 118,204 people, and in Maraş, 107,896 people have been still forced to live in container cities.
On the other hand, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the commemoration program on the anniversary of the earthquakes and stated, "By the end of the year, we will build a total of 453,000 housing units and ensure that not a single citizen remains without a home or workplace."
It is estimated that the government has fulfilled only 50 percent of the promises made two years ago regarding housing development for the survivors.
According to official statistics, a total of 53,537 people lost their lives and 107,213 people were injured in the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes.