İstanbul Municipality Announces Earthquake Assembly Areas

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The İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality has announced the assembly areas and temporary sheltering areas for the expected earthquake in the city.

The emergency assembly areas are planned to be used immediately after the earthquake while the temporary sheltering areas will be set up for people in need to reside for up to two years.

The assembly areas in the city of 15 million have been a matter of debate for years, with the opposition accusing the government of opening the emergency areas for development.

İstanbul lies on a number of active fault lines under the Sea of Marmara, which are expected to produce an earthquake larger than 7.0 magnitude. 

In September, the city was struck by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake, which left hundreds of buildings, including schools, damaged.

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The municipality said that it chose the areas and evacuation roads in cooperation with various government agencies, including the Disaster and Emergency Presidency (AFAD), the İstanbul Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM), and the Directorate General of Coastal Safety. (AÖ/VK)