Turkish government: Earthquake expected 7.5 in Istanbul

The Turkish government is seriously preparing to face a powerful earthquake in Istanbul.

Interior Minister Sulejman Soylu's statement to Turkish CNN was frightening.

“We expect Istanbul to strike an earthquake of the 7.5 magnitude on the Richter scale. We are seriously working on the likelihood of such a” scenario, said Soylu, quoted also by Al Jazeera.

His comments came after the 6.8 earthquake that rocked the southeastern provinces of Elazig and Malatya.

The minister recalled the 5.8 trimor shake in Istanbul in the month of September and said that since then, the executive has taken into account warnings of the danger of an even more powerful earthquake in the country's largest economic city, at the same time as his economic heart.

According to Soylu, government agencies have co-ordinated regular meetings among 28 working groups set up in order to prepare for a 7.5-strong earthquake.

This is a very complex study, and it includes measures connected to the protection of national treasures at the Topkapi Palace Palace Palace Palace Palace and to the needs of citizens to gather in certain places, has been his comment.

Friday's quake left at least 38 dead and over 1600 injured. /tch