Construction of state-of-the-art emergency bunkers in urban areas of Turkey to enhance civilian safety.
Turkey, August 28, 2025
In a significant move to enhance civilian safety amidst rising geopolitical tensions, the Turkish government has initiated a comprehensive bunker construction program across all provinces. This initiative aims to create modern infrastructure for emergency shelters, particularly in urban areas, ensuring quick access for citizens during potential crises. Updated regulations will facilitate the development of these bunkers, which draw inspiration from successful systems in other countries. The program reflects Turkey’s commitment to improving citizen safety and readiness in uncertain times and is overseen by the national mass housing administration.
The Turkish government has officially initiated a comprehensive nationwide bunker construction program, addressing the urgent need for civilian protection amid rising geopolitical tensions. This initiative will affect all 81 provinces in Turkey and aims to construct bunkers that comply with modern safety standards, particularly in major urban centers.
This program comes in response to recommendations from the National Intelligence Academy, which highlighted the importance of minimizing civilian casualties in the face of potential conflicts. The construction of bunkers is essential for providing accessible safe areas for citizens, especially in densely populated metropolitan regions.
Bunkers are planned to be built throughout the country, often beneath national gardens and various public spaces. This strategic placement is intended to ensure that citizens can quickly reach these safe havens in times of crisis. The initiative reflects a growing concern regarding the adequacy of Turkey’s current emergency infrastructure, which was deemed insufficient for protecting the civilian population during potential wars and disasters.
Officials have made significant updates to regulations that govern the construction of emergency bunkers. These updates come in light of the existing Bunker Regulation, which has been in effect since 1987. Under this regulation, buildings of specific sizes must incorporate bunker space, with a requirement of at least one square meter of net bunker space per person. The calculation for this space is based on a standard of four individuals per residential unit.
For accommodation facilities like dormitories, hotels, and hospitals, the regulations mandate that the bunker space must accommodate 20% more than the number of beds outlined in the architectural plans. Historically, however, enforcement of these regulations has been inadequate, leading to many designated bunker areas being misused for parking or storage rather than maintained as emergency shelters.
The new bunkers will be constructed with a focus on rapid access during emergencies, designed to withstand various disaster scenarios. The goal is to create durable structures that can serve multiple purposes – not only during crises but for use during natural disasters as well. This will ensure a network of accessible emergency bunkers throughout urban centers, enabling swift citizen access to protection.
In preparation for this undertaking, a comprehensive study was conducted examining global examples of bunker systems, particularly the well-regarded systems in Israel, Japan, and Switzerland. These insights will inform Turkey’s approach to ensuring the effectiveness of its own bunker program.
The national mass housing administration, TOKI, has been appointed to oversee the construction of these bunkers. Initial construction work has already begun in various cities across the nation, with Ankara being designated as a priority location. The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change will lead this nationwide initiative, focusing on establishing an integrated bunker infrastructure.
As this program unfolds, the Turkish government is taking proactive steps to enhance safety and preparedness, recognizing the need for modernized infrastructure that caters to the security concerns of its citizenry. Turkey’s approach to civil safety in response to geopolitical tensions exemplifies a commitment to protect and prepare its population for any potential threats.
The program aims to create accessible safe areas for citizens in response to geopolitical tensions, minimizing civilian casualties during potential conflicts.
Bunkers will be built beneath national gardens and various other public locations throughout the country, particularly in major urban centers.
The national mass housing administration, TOKI, is responsible for the construction of the bunkers under this program.
The existing Bunker Regulation requires specific sizes of buildings to have designated bunker space, but enforcement has historically been weak.
Construction work has already started in several cities, with a focus on Ankara as a priority location.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Nationwide Scope | Bunkers will be constructed in all 81 provinces. |
| Modern Infrastructure | Bunkers will meet current safety standards and be designed for rapid access during emergencies. |
| Regulatory Compliance | New regulations will update the Bunker Regulation established in 1987. |
| Construction Oversight | TOKI will oversee the entire construction process. |
| Initial Construction | Work has begun in Ankara and other key urban areas. |
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