Harmancı Warns of Lack of Coordination and Data on Shelters

Speaking on Kanal T's programme hosted by Nazar Erişkin, Harmancı said that there has been no communication from relevant authorities on the issue. “We have never been given any clear information about shelters, neither the municipality nor the public. No shelter requests have been made for new construction projects; instead, we’ve only seen requests for anti-aircraft batteries,” he said.

“We know where the old shelters are, but we have no data on the current situation. We don’t even know where the shelters are located today,” he added, noting that no updated fieldwork has been conducted.

“There Is No Coordination on the Ground—Only Talk”

Harmancı criticised what he described as the authorities' inaction, stressing that there is no field coordination regarding the condition or accessibility of shelters, nor any checks to determine whether these spaces are still viable or being used for other purposes.

“There’s a lot of talk, but I haven’t seen any concrete action. I hope this changes soon,” he said.

Shelters in Hotels and Public Buildings Should Be Inspected

The mayor called for inspections in high-capacity hotels and public buildings to assess whether they can genuinely serve as shelters. Citing the newly built Presidential Complex as an example, he warned that such buildings might be repurposing designated shelter areas for other uses.

Harmancı’s remarks highlight growing concerns over civil preparedness amid heightened regional tensions, particularly as local authorities remain excluded from key safety planning processes.