The February 6 earthquake in Turkey and its aftershocks caused more than $34 billion (more than 32 billion euros) in damage, the World Bank said on Monday.
The amount is equivalent to 4% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021, the institution said in a statement, adding that the estimate does not take into account either reconstruction costs, which are “potentially double” or the impact on Turkish growth.
The World Bank (WB) reminds that aftershocks, which continue to be recorded, may increase the total amount of damage caused by the elements. The amount of damage in northern Syria, a region also affected by earthquakes, was not taken into account.
“This disaster reminds us that Turkey is in a zone of strong seismic activity and that the resilience of both private and public infrastructure needs to be strengthened. The World Bank stands ready to support Turkey’s efforts in this regard,” BM country director Humberto Lopez said, quoted in the statement.
The institution says estimates covering the latest replicas are still being made.
About 10,000 aftershocks have been recorded in Turkey since February 6, according to the state-run disaster management agency.
According to the latest official balance, earthquakes in the south and southeast of the country claimed the lives of more than 44 thousand people.
The February 6 earthquake destroyed or seriously damaged over 170,000 buildings.
The affected Turkish provinces, which are among the poorest in the country, are home to more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees, the WB explains.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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