Urban transformation work in a site at risk of collapse in the event of a possible earthquake in Büyükçekmece.

Demolition works have begun for an 8-block site with 91 independent units at risk of collapse due to earthquakes in Buyukcekmece, Istanbul. Mayor of Buyukcekmece, Dr. Hasan Akgun, who inspected the demolition works on-site, emphasized the importance of urban transformation, stating, “If we do not act quickly, we will lose many lives.”

As part of urban transformation efforts in Buyukcekmece, the demolition of the 8-block site consisting of 91 independent units in the Fatih Neighborhood at risk of collapse due to earthquakes has started. It is expected that the buildings, which are being demolished in cooperation with citizens and the municipality, will be rebuilt in accordance with earthquake regulations. Mayor Dr. Hasan Akgun also inspected the demolition work on-site and obtained information from the teams. Following that, Mayor Akgun showed citizens a concrete sample taken from the building, which was found to be completely filled with seashells and measured at C8 concrete value.

“Buyukcekmece is carrying out exemplary urban transformation for Turkey”

Mayor Akgun stated that urban transformation efforts have accelerated even further following the Kahramanmaras Earthquake on February 6, 2022, saying, “Buyukcekmece is carrying out exemplary urban transformation for Turkey. As stated by our minister and our president, we continue on a block-by-block basis. Our goal is to completely eliminate buildings at risk of collapse by 2030. I am only excluding the Kumburgaz shores because previous councils did not make a decision on this. Now, President Imamoglu has taken the council and gained a bit more power. We do not have a planning problem in central Buyukcekmece. The worsening economic conditions have slowed down urban transformation a bit. But regardless of what happens, we will continue to demolish and rebuild. If we do not, it will cost citizens their lives. Currently, we have completed over 70% of the most dangerous areas in central Buyukcekmece. 54,000 residences have been renewed. There are another 15,000 residences, but the most dangerous ones have been renovated,” he said.

“If we do not act quickly, we will lose many lives”

Speaking about the expected zoning plan in Kumburgaz, Akgun said, “There is no problem regarding the right side of the D-100 highway. The real problem is that we need to carry out a significant demolition along the narrow 12-kilometer coastal strip between the D-100 and the sea. If we do not demolish, and it coincides with the summer months, we will not be able to rescue any citizens alive from there. Now, a large part of the council majority is from the Republican People’s Party, and two of the expected plans have been released. They are working day and night within Kumburgaz. We did the last one on Wednesday. The project has not yet reached the council because we are preparing the silhouette and have roughly established the planning discipline. We will prepare it according to today’s conditions, which we did a bit more in the 2010s and 2012s, and present it to the council. President Ekrem is focusing on this more. We are trying to create a beautiful silhouette as we enter Istanbul, and President Ekrem is persistently following it. We will work the metropolitan council hard; we see that there are no excuses left. For example, the Tepecik plans had been waiting for 10 years, and we got it out in 3.5 months. The Pınartepe plans had been waiting for 10 years, and they are coming out in this council. We will proceed quickly; if we do not act quickly, we will lose many lives. Unfortunately, terrible events will occur in Istanbul and its surroundings because it has been greatly delayed.