Migration from the largest Turkish metropolis after the recent earthquake in Kahramanmarash has reached a peak, analysts comment. After strong aftershocks that provoked great destruction in 11 provinces, people began to "flee" from the most earthquake-prone large cities - so to speak, "under threat". Istanbul is one of them; and the memory of a very strong earthquake in the Marmara Sea in 1999 is still fresh here.
Experts call this phenomenon "seismic migration"; fearing new tremors that are predicted in Istanbul in the next decade, citizens began to leave areas such as, for example, Avcylar, Beylikduzu, Bagcylar and Sefakey, and especially Kadykey. Why them? It is in these areas that the largest number of old buildings are concentrated – before the year 2 000. And two of the strongest February tremors destroyed mostly non-earthquake-resistant houses.
Therefore, families living in such buildings and having second homes in other regions – summer houses or spare apartments – move there.
These processes are also confirmed by the owners of transport companies, as well as warehouses: for every conditional 2-3 applications for the selection of a warehouse for the storage of personal belongings after the earthquake, there were 30-40. In addition, the volume of intercity transportation ordered by private individuals has significantly increased.
The authorities remind that those who in the current situation agree to build their own house can receive financial assistance in the amount of up to 300 000 Turkish lira (TL) for capital buildings and up to 200 000 TL for factory houses.