02:47Turkey: Erdogan reveals government's plans to face the earthquake aftermath
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed the government's plans to face the earthquake aftermath, speaking to lawmakers from his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Wednesday in Ankara.
Erdogan started his speech by saying that the country's 'earthquake storm' could have never been prevented, however, country's infrastructure, must be evolved to face any future risks.
"Indeed, Turkey is caught in an earthquake storm. It is not possible for us to prevent earthquakes, which are a fact of the geography we live in." said the Turkish president.
He added, "Our duty is this: first of all, to build safe places with earthquake infrastructure, roads, hospitals, schools, guests and workplaces. After the earthquake, carrying out the fastest and most effective relief efforts possible to heal the wounds and compensate for the destruction. In both areas, our country has made incomparably more progress in the last 20 years than in the past."
Amid wave of criticism over the authorties' dealing with the deadliest quake in the nation's modern history, President Erdogan also revealed the government is planning to create a national risk shield model for Turkey and to make Turkish cities earthquake-resistant places.
"In fact, we will bring the studies that we have already been continuing in different fields for a while to a holistic structure with this model. Undoubtedly, the topic of this process will be the rapid transformation of the earthquake-resistant housing stock in our cities." said president Erdogan.
The total death toll from the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria has exceeded 50,000. Turkey alone has faced 44,218 deaths, according to the country's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). The earthquake also killed 5914 in Syria.
02:47Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed the government's plans to face the earthquake aftermath, speaking to lawmakers from his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Wednesday in Ankara.
Erdogan started his speech by saying that the country's 'earthquake storm' could have never been prevented, however, country's infrastructure, must be evolved to face any future risks.
"Indeed, Turkey is caught in an earthquake storm. It is not possible for us to prevent earthquakes, which are a fact of the geography we live in." said the Turkish president.
He added, "Our duty is this: first of all, to build safe places with earthquake infrastructure, roads, hospitals, schools, guests and workplaces. After the earthquake, carrying out the fastest and most effective relief efforts possible to heal the wounds and compensate for the destruction. In both areas, our country has made incomparably more progress in the last 20 years than in the past."
Amid wave of criticism over the authorties' dealing with the deadliest quake in the nation's modern history, President Erdogan also revealed the government is planning to create a national risk shield model for Turkey and to make Turkish cities earthquake-resistant places.
"In fact, we will bring the studies that we have already been continuing in different fields for a while to a holistic structure with this model. Undoubtedly, the topic of this process will be the rapid transformation of the earthquake-resistant housing stock in our cities." said president Erdogan.
The total death toll from the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria has exceeded 50,000. Turkey alone has faced 44,218 deaths, according to the country's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). The earthquake also killed 5914 in Syria.