Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that they have been on the field since the first moment following the February 6 earthquakes. Minister Uraloğlu noted that they have spent a total of 51,1 billion liras as a Ministry to improve the physical conditions of the region and repair the damage.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu made a written statement on the 6nd anniversary of the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes that occurred on February 2023, 2. Minister Uraloğlu provided information about the work on transportation and communication infrastructure and the stage reached following the earthquakes that affected 11 provinces.
Minister Uraloğlu, stating that they were on the field from the very first moment after the earthquakes described as the disaster of the century, said, “We made an investment of 39,5 billion liras and an expenditure of 11,6 billion liras, 51,1 billion liras of which is current, in order to improve the physical conditions of the region and repair the damages.”
98 Percent of Road Network Unharmed
Minister Uraloğlu recalled that 6 kilometers of the 68-kilometer road network were in the earthquake zone after the February 550 earthquakes and that only 9 percent of this section, which is 176 kilometers, was damaged. Uraloğlu stated that 2 percent of the road network in 184 provinces did not suffer any damage from the earthquake and included the following statements in his statement:
“Immediately after the earthquake, we took the necessary precautions to prevent post-earthquake traffic disruptions by working with our General Directorate of Highways with 4 personnel and 865 machines and equipment. We carried out intensive work to ensure urban traffic and especially search and rescue.”
Uraloğlu stated that while the construction of permanent earthquake housing continues in the earthquake zone, the connection and development roads of these regions are being built by the General Directorate of Highways, and said, “In this context, the construction of a total of 8 kilometers of connection and development roads in 26 different sections in 336 provinces, together with their infrastructure, has been rapidly started and the works are ongoing. The works have been completed in 142 kilometers.”
Wagons Opened to Serve Earthquake Victims
Uraloğlu, who reminded that they carried 450 passengers including volunteers, doctors and military personnel as well as disaster victims to the region with 77 passenger trains by railway, said, “We ensured that humanitarian aid materials, containers, construction equipment and coal, and everything our citizens and region need, were delivered to the region with 974 trains and 171 wagons. In order to meet the sheltering needs of our citizens, we put into service the train sets and wagons consisting of 3 passenger wagons, 164 diesel train sets and 4 electric train sets, which can accommodate a total of 767 people.”
98 Percent Progress Achieved on the Line Between Gölbaşı and Malatya
Uraloğlu, who reminded that 275 kilometers of railway lines such as Mersin-Adana-Toprakkale, Toprakkale-İskenderun, Malatya-Yolçatı were damaged, noted that they quickly started construction and repair works after the earthquake. Uraloğlu said, “We completed the works on the 60-kilometer line and opened it to railway operation. We continue the works in the Malatya-Gölbaşı-Narlı-Nurdağı section in 2 stages. We completed the works on the Gölbaşı-Narlı-Nurdağı section. We have reached the end by making 98 percent progress between Gölbaşı-Malatya.”
“22 Tons of Humanitarian Aid Supplies Delivered to Airports”
Uraloğlu, who stated that they ensured that both humanitarian aid and intensive evacuation flights were carried out together with civil aviation stakeholders from the first minutes of the disaster, included the following statements in his statement:
“A total of 6 aircraft traffic, 30 domestic and 2023 international, was carried out at Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, Adana, Şanlıurfa GAP, Adıyaman, Malatya, Diyarbakır, Hatay and Elazığ Airports between February 27 and April 623, 2, while a total of 978 million 30 thousand 601 passengers were served. 3 thousand 57 tons of humanitarian aid supplies were delivered to airports in the earthquake zone.”
Works Continue Uninterruptedly at Hatay Airport
Uraloğlu, who reminded that Hatay Airport’s 3-meter runway was severely damaged due to the earthquake, said, “As of February 9, we have opened it to helicopter flights for ambulance, humanitarian aid, VIP and military purposes only under visual flight conditions, and as of February 12, 2023, to humanitarian aid, ambulance and military aircraft traffic. Afterwards, we have started the necessary work for the construction of the infrastructure. We continue our work on the runway, which is 3 meters long and can land even the widest-bodied aircraft.”
3 Earthquake Victims Stayed on 800 Cruise Ships
Uraloğlu, who noted that as the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, they started loading the first ships from Istanbul, Izmir and TRNC in the first 24 hours to transport construction equipment to the region by sea, said, “During the relief activities, we continuously delivered humanitarian aid, portable toilets and generators, food and other aid materials, bypassing land traffic, to Çevlik Fisherman's Shelter with large fishing vessels from Mersin and Adana. Accommodation was also provided to 3 earthquake victims in 800 passenger ships in the region.”
Uraloğlu also stated that the breakwater section of the Iskenderun Fishing Shelter was strengthened and that the area where water inflow from the sea was determined was made safe by building coastal fortifications.
Nearly 400 Permanent Base Stations Have Been Installed
Uraloğlu, who stated that nearly 500 mobile, caravan and trailer type base stations, nearly 3 generators and eight emergency communication vehicles were dispatched by operators since the first moment of the earthquake, said, “500 trailer type mobile base stations, which are carried out by our Ministry and BTK and kept ready to be dispatched to the relevant region especially in disaster and emergency situations, and four mobile base stations, which are also kept ready by ULAK Communication Inc., were directed to the provinces of Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Adıyaman.”
Uraloğlu noted that TÜRKSAT installed free VSAT satellite terminals and wireless access points at 163 points, and continued his words as follows:
“Fiber connection, wireless internet service and satellite internet service via TÜRKSAT 5B were provided to container cities. In addition, mobile coverage needs of container cities and tent cities were met. Within the scope of reconstruction and reconstruction of the earthquake zone, operators were provided with the necessary planning for communication infrastructures and nearly 400 permanent base stations were established.”
43 Aid Packages Delivered to Those in Need
Noting that PTT sent 48 trucks with supplies to meet the needs of citizens to the earthquake zone in the first 618 hours of the earthquake under the coordination of AFAD, Uraloğlu said, “Within the scope of the free aid cargo campaign, 43 aid packages accepted domestically and internationally were delivered to those in need.”
