Istanbul’s Concrete Landscape Raises Earthquake Concerns

Following the 2023 earthquake, recent aerial images of Istanbul shocked experts. Zafer Murat Çetintaş, Istanbul Environmental Council Secretary General, described the city as an “open cemetery.” The images around Güngören, Bahçelievler, and Bağcılar revealed a concrete-heavy landscape with a lack of green spaces. Experts warned of potential challenges in evacuating citizens and providing aid during a major earthquake due to limited roads. Urgent calls were made to increase green areas, construct helipads, widen main roads by 10 meters, and establish access routes for supply flights using helicopters for inner-city areas.