Erdogan: The cost of the earthquake for the country’s economy is 104 billion dollars

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent a video message to the conference entitled “Turkish-German Conference: The role of the European private sector in strengthening the business world in the regions affected by the earthquake” organized by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges Basic of Turkey and the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“The total cost of the earthquake for the economy of our country is estimated at 104 billion dollars. I hope that we will overcome this heavy burden together with the support of you, our friends,” he said.

311 THOUSAND BUILDINGS HAVE REMAINED UNUSABLE

Regarding the earthquake in which Turkey was rocked by two large earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, Erdoğan said: “We lost more than 50 thousand lives in these earthquakes. In 11 provinces affected by the earthquake, 311,000 buildings with 872,000 independent apartments were left unusable. Workplaces, agricultural areas, businesses, factories were damaged. “14 million of our people have personally experienced the negative effects of the earthquake,” he said.

DELIVERY OF HOUSES WILL BEGIN IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER

Reminding that the construction of permanent residences has started in areas with no risk of earthquakes, Erdoğan said: “We will gradually hand over the completed residences starting in October and November.”

“We will finish the construction of 319,000 residences in the first year and deliver them to the beneficiaries,” Erdogan said, adding: “Our goal is to build 650,000 residences in total.” (DHA)