 "Has Erdogan delivered on promises he made after Turkey's last earthquake?")
When a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey’s northwestern Balıkesir province on Sunday, it served as a stark reminder of the country’s persistent vulnerability to seismic disasters.
The tremor, which left one person dead and dozens injured, comes as Turkey continues to grapple with the aftermath of the February 2023 earthquake, the deadliest natural disaster in Turkey’s modern history.
That quake — measuring 7.8 in magnitude — leveled vast parts of southeastern Turkey, killing more than 55,000 people, injuring over 107,000, and flattening entire towns across 11 provinces including Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Adıyaman.
According to a Reuters report, after the tragedy , Erdoğan pledged to build 650,000 housing units, promising that 319,000 would be delivered within a year.
As of early 2025, only 201,431 homes have been handed over, Reuters reported, citing government data. This amounts to less than one-third of the total promise.
Opposition parties claim that the government has fulfilled just 30% of its reconstruction commitments, with some of the hardest-hit provinces like Hatay reporting completion rates as low as 18%.
The delays have drawn criticism from both domestic and international observers, especially as Turkey remains vulnerable to new seismic threats.
Despite the progress, hundreds of thousands of survivors remain displaced, many living in container homes or temporary shelters with limited access to clean water, healthcare, and education.
Aid groups including UNICEF and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have raised alarms over worsening humanitarian conditions, calling the pace of reconstruction “far too slow.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsA recent report by the Hatay Earthquake Victims’ Association said more than 400,000 people are still living in container cities, many facing poor sanitation and exposure to health hazards like asbestos from unregulated demolitions.
However, there are signs of recovery in certain areas.
In Adıyaman, officials reported the construction of nearly 30,000 urban housing units, alongside widespread use of self-built housing and temporary shelters.
Monthly financial aid of TL 4,500 has been provided to thousands of affected families. Heritage restoration projects are also underway to revive the region’s cultural identity.
President Erdoğan has defended the government’s record, stating at an event, “We have shown the presence of the state with construction and reparation efforts that went on day and night for two years.”
Yet critics argue the recovery remains incomplete and unevenly distributed.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake in Turkey’s northwestern Balıkesir province on Sunday, resulting in one fatality and 29 minor injuries. The tremor caused the collapse of 16 mostly derelict buildings and shook major cities including Istanbul and Izmir.
With Turkey sitting atop three major tectonic plates, the earthquake in Balıkesir serves as a stark reminder of the country’s ongoing vulnerability, and the urgency of delivering on post-disaster promises.
With inputs from agencies
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