Istanbul Demolishes 10,000 At-Risk Buildings Annually as Seismologists Highlight Marmara Fault Risk
Under ongoing urban renewal initiatives, Istanbul is demolishing approximately 10,000 earthquake-vulnerable buildings each year to mitigate seismic disaster risks. According to government and urban planning estimates, the metropolis accounts for approximately half of all urban renewal demolitions across Türkiye.
Municipal and ministerial evaluations indicate that roughly 600,000 housing units across Istanbul remain at critical risk of catastrophic failure during a major seismic event along the North Anatolian Fault line. Demolition and reconstruction efforts are currently supported by state subsidy initiatives, including the "Yarısı Bizden" ("Half from Us") program, which provides direct reconstruction grants and relocation assistance to property owners.
