Government seizes private lands to set up container cities in Hatay

Photo: Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality

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The Hatay Governor's Office has temporarily seized some privately owned lands to set up container cities for earthquake survivors.

The owners of the lands will be paid later, according to the order published early today (March 20).

The order was based on the state of emergency declared in 10 provinces affected by the massive quakes last month, said the governor's office.

The seized lands are located in the districts of Antakya, Belen, Defne, Samandağ, İskenderun, Kırıkhan, Dörtyol and Hassa.

On February 6, two earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.7 and 7.6 struck the southern city of Maraş.

The quakes caused destruction in 10 cities in Turkey's south and southeast, as well as Syria's northern parts, where over 5,000 people were killed.

The official death toll from the quakes stands at nearly 50,000 and is expected to increase further, as over 227,000 buildings were destroyed or severely damaged, according to government figures.

Nearly two million people have been displaced after the quakes. (HA/VK)