Veteran seismologist warns against rapid building construction in quake-hit provinces after Erdoğan's remarks
Veteran seismologist Prof. Naci Görür, who had warned against the risk of earthquakes in southeastern Turkey for years before they occurred, has said that rapid building construction in quake-stricken provinces is not advised. The warning came after President Erdoğan’s remarks, who said the reconstruction of the destroyed provinces will start as soon as possible.
Duvar English
Prof. Naci Görür, a well-known professor of geology, has warned against the dangers of rapid construction after the removal of rubble in quake-hit provinces.
Görür's remarks came after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s announcement, who said that reconstruction of the destroyed provinces will start as soon as possible.
"We will start construction work after the rubble removal operations," President Erdoğan said on Feb. 14 while speaking after the cabinet meeting. Erdoğan said they will start the construction of 30,000 houses by the beginning of March.
"Within a few months, we will build the construction of all the houses away from the fault lines and deliver them to the rightful owners," he added.
Responding to Erdoğan, Prof. Naci Görür has warned against such a move.
“Of course, I understand this approach from a humanitarian point of view, but my humble advice is those settlement areas should not be selected, and construction should not start without conducting a micro-zoning study in this entire region. I hope this time I can make my voice heard by the authorities,” Görür said in a tweet.
Turkey’s southern region was hit by two powerful earthquakes on Feb. 6, one at a magnitude of 7.7 and the other 7.6. Thousands of buildings in ten provinces have been completely demolished or damaged in the quakes and thousands of people had to live in the tent camps or streets.