Thanks to Mayor Erjin's Decisiveness
No Casualties or Damage Occurred
Other Cities' Poor Construction Practices Exposed
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Amid reports that poor construction and corruption have exacerbated the earthquake damage in T?rkiye, a city with no casualties has attracted attention.
Recently, local media including Business Turkey Today reported on Erzin, a city where not a single person was harmed and no buildings collapsed despite the strong earthquake on the 6th. Erzin, with a population of 42,000, is a city in Hatay Province, one of the 10 provinces affected by this earthquake.
Thanks to the decisive leadership of Erzin’s mayor, who did not allow illegal construction, the safety of residents was preserved. Mayor ?kke? Elmaso?lu stated, "We did not permit illegal construction," adding, "In Erzin, there were no deaths or injuries, no buildings collapsed, and there is no debris."
Mayor Elmaso?lu, who lives in a single-story detached house, recalled that when the earthquake struck, his house shook violently, and he ran out the door with his children, waiting for the shaking to stop.
He reiterated that he never allowed illegal construction in any form.
He also mentioned that he faced many criticisms for strictly prohibiting illegal construction. However, he emphasized that since construction policies are directly related to residents’ safety, he tried not to let politics interfere.
In this regard, the British weekly magazine The Economist reported on the 12th (local time) that fraudulent practices involving poor construction by government officials and builders are being increasingly exposed.
The Economist cited local construction experts’ opinions, stating that poor enforcement of building regulations, corruption, and misguided policy decisions appear to be the causes of the high death toll.
It is easy to obtain building permits, inspections are weak, and companies delegated with enforcement authority receive money from construction firms, resulting in regulations that apply at the start of construction not being followed until completion.
Meanwhile, the death toll from this major earthquake surpassed 33,000 as of the 12th. Official counts show 29,605 deaths in T?rkiye and 3,574 in Syria, totaling 33,179.
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