Earthquake victims hit with massive utility bills as invoicing resumes

A 4345,60TL (184,20 dollars) bill of an earthquake victim. (Photo: Twitter)

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Following the devastating tremors that pulverized large swathes of Turkey's south and southeast, killing over 50,000, invoicing and collection procedures of utility bills were put on hold until May 31.

However, with the resumption of billing in June, people are charged with tens of thousands of liras, Tülay Hatimoğulları Oruç, Adana Representative of the Green Left Party (YSP), remarked in the parliament today (June 14).

The deputy highlighted that the earthquake victims are troubled with exorbitant electricity, water, and gas bills and stressed the urgent requirement for establishing a research commission to relieve them from their burden.

No means to pay the bills

Mehmet Güzelmansur, Hatay's deputy from the Republican People's Party (CHP), submitted a proposal to cover the utility bills by the state until the end of the year.

"The overwhelming majority of earthquake victims, who are unemployed and have no income, still do not have the means to pay these bills or other bills," Güzelmansur emphasized.

If Güzelmansur's proposal is passed, earthquake victims will have their electricity and natural gas bills covered by the budget of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, while their water bills will be covered by the budget of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change until the end of 2023. (VC/WM)