In the 6.6 magnitude earthquake that occurred off the coast of Izmir's Seferihisar district on October 30, 2020, 117 people lost their lives and many houses and workplaces were severely damaged. After the earthquake, efforts were initiated to quickly heal the wounds. In place of the destroyed houses, disaster houses began to be built and delivered within 1 year under the coordination of TOKİ. On the other hand, comprehensive studies were carried out for the urban transformation of Izmir, which is located in the earthquake zone. Following ground surveys, areas with solid ground were detected in Bayraklı, one of the districts most affected by the earthquake. These regions were declared as reserve building areas in order to build earthquake-resistant houses. In this context, an exemplary urban transformation work was implemented by TOKİ and Emlak Konut GYO. A total of 5 thousand 592 independent sections were completed in Bayraklı, Osmangazi and Mansuroğlu neighborhoods of the district. The construction of 995 independent sections continues.
HOUSES STARTED TO BE DELIVERED IN 1 YEAR
Mehmet Dayıca, who is in the images, stated that the site they lived in was damaged in the earthquake and said, "We did various research after our site was damaged. Finally, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change opened an office here. We went and applied. As a result, the construction of our building started on May 5, 2024. We received our building on May 19, 2025. In fact, this is a rare blessing. We started the first project. We were the first to move. After us, more "The demands have also increased. If our government had not intervened in this matter, I would probably have sold my shares and left," he said.
"WHEN WE NO LONGER WORRY WHEN AN EARTHQUAKE HAPPENS"
Pointing out the feeling of security provided by new houses, Tuncay Yılmaz said, "We experienced the earthquake here, we experienced that fear. But it has been a year since we moved, alhamdulillah, now when an earthquake occurs, we only move to a solid place at home. We never have to worry about going out. In that respect, we express our gratitude to our state, we express our endless gratitude. We are living in a comfortable and safe house now." Explaining that they had a hard time during the earthquake, Havva Şahin, one of the residents of the region, said, "We were crying then. But now I'm laughing. We've been through bad days, I hope there will be good days now." Sermin Bağcı, on the other hand, stated that they closely followed the construction process of the houses from the very beginning and said, "We are very comfortable in terms of earthquakes. Because when the foundations were laid, we could see what was being done because we lived in the same vicinity. In that respect, we are sure that we live in a very safe environment. I am happy with my kitchen, I am happy with the bathrooms. Most of all, it is very good that the laundry room is separate. We became homeowners from the beginning."
"BEAUTIFUL AND SOLID"
Stating that he is a mechanical engineer and that he personally followed the construction process closely, Serkan Gül said, "For example, there are 780 bored piles on this island, each of them is 25-30 meters deep. When I saw the foundations, I was satisfied, it was very beautiful and solid. It is a building that I definitely believe is solid in structure. It was completed in a short time."
"EVEN THINGS WE COULDN'T THINK HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED"
Bilal Çatal, one of the beneficiaries, said, "We are trying to live here happily and peacefully with our neighbors without being affected by the earthquakes we hear in the surrounding area, Sındırgı or other earthquakes. It is very important for us that people are in a safe area, in a safe place, in a safe house. Building and structural stability is the first priority, but living spaces that we sometimes cannot think of are also considered. Living spaces have been beautified. Living rooms, rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and 99 percent of our needs are met."
