Turkey: Almost 30% of the population live in highest quake-risk areas

Source: Middle East Insurance Review | Apr 2018

Some 27% of Turkey’s population live in areas that carry the highest earthquake risk, said Deputy Prime Minister Recep Akdag.

Speaking at a symposium recently on the occasion of “Earthquake Week”, he said that not all buildings situated in earthquake areas are under risk. The ones built before a certain period are the main ones to watch out for, reported Hurriyet Daily News citing Mr Akdag.

“People should be aware that houses built before 1990 are particularly under risk,” he said.

“The focus should be on improving existing buildings. Turkey has upgraded its risk map and developed a software programme that helps authorities assess potential risks in almost every land plot, information that helps to build safer buildings,” he added.

The minister also urged the public to purchase CAT insurance from the Turkish Catastrophic Insurance Pool, noting that only 48% of houses are currently covered by this scheme.

At the end of 2017, the country’s population stood at 80.8 million. M

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