Malatya Mayor Says Reconstruction and Infrastructure Work Transforms City

Malatya Mayor Sami Er said the city has undergone significant change after the February 6 earthquakes. He spoke during a visit to the top of the LC Waikiki building with journalist Nedim Şener, who viewed the city from a 360-degree perspective.

Er stated that 125,000 independent residential and commercial units were constructed and delivered within 15 months. Three of those months were spent on project approvals.

“We did not only heal the wounds of the earthquake. We built the Malatya of the future.”

The mayor said about 20 percent of the city has been renewed. He added that infrastructure work worth 35 billion Turkish lira is ongoing.

Er said the state has completed and delivered a total of 455,000 independent units in the earthquake region within three years. He described the process as a rebirth miracle for Malatya.

Speaking at the 8th Traditional Malatya Promotion Days in Istanbul, Er said 4 billion lira in sports investments have also been made. He said the city aims to secure its 100-year drinking water needs with 70 million euros in resources.

Er said Malatya is shifting from a single-center settlement model to a multi-center urban structure. Projects in Kernek, Kışla, İnönü, Fuzuli and Çarmuzu have created new living and trade areas.

The mayor said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan closely follows earthquake-region work. He also said Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum provides significant support for projects in Malatya.