After the 7.7 magnitude earthquakes in Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaraş and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes centred in Elbistan on February 6, 2023, undamaged textile mills in Diyarbakır started to be used to meet the need for shelter and food. Diyarbakır Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mehmet Kaya, making a statement to AA, said that there is no serious problem in industrial facilities in the province and disclosed: “On the contrary, our industrialists have suspended production for a week and are now using their factories for the shelter and food needs of the victims of the earthquake. We would like to thank them.”
Kaya, stating that there was no damage other than minor cracks in the industrial facilities, said that the facilities in both the organised industrial zone and the textile organised industrial zone met the needs for shelter and food together with schools. Kaya disclosed: “The factories that did not have urgent orders gave this support. Our industrialists who participate in the production of the country are our biggest supporters today. We are very well organised in Diyarbakır. We will now try to help the neighbouring provinces. There are problems in our neighbouring provinces, we are also in contact with other chamber presidents. We have directed the work machines there. This is not something the state can accomplish on its own. If we work together with non-governmental organisations, industrial organisations, AFAD, governorship and municipality, we can overcome this problem. Working separately will not help.”
Approximately 10 factories collapsed in Adıyaman
Adıyaman Organised Industrial Zone President Abdulkadir Çelenk stated that the number of collapsed houses in the province is very high and it is difficult to estimate the death toll and said: “Our province has suffered a lot of damage. Many apartment blocks were destroyed. I hope this too shall pass.” Providing information on the status of industrial facilities in the province, Çelenk disclosed: “Approximately 10 factories collapsed in our province. There are mostly garment factories in the province. My olive oil factory was destroyed. We will not be in a condition to work for a long time. There is no electricity, water and gas. Our citizens are also waiting for help. There are urgent needs such as bread and water. Our governorship is making efforts, but we have faced a huge disaster. I hope we will get through this together.”
“We are currently working at 20-25 percent capacity”
Bekir Sütçü, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Adana Hacı Sabancı Organised Industrial Zone (OSB), where 55 textile companies operate, said that the incident was a great disaster and a state of emergency. He disclosed: “As industrialists, we do not have any request and demand from the state at the moment. On the contrary, we endeavour to do whatever we can for our state, authorised institutions and organisations.”
Stating that Adana OIZ did not experience any problems in accessing electricity and natural gas, Sütçü said that the machinery, equipment and buildings were not affected by the earthquake. Sütçü, stating that there is no problem preventing production in terms of physical equipment, disclosed: “There are those affected by the earthquake among our citizens and their families. There are dead and injured among them. Therefore, the working environment in our OIZ is currently at a minimum level. We could not work much on the first day of the earthquake, we could not understand what happened. There are partial works on the second day. We are currently working at 20-25 percent capacity.”
Sütçü, reminding that they also experienced the 1998 earthquake in Adana, said: “We were careful as OIZ from the foundations of the constructions to the ground survey reports after that earthquake. In other words, we worked for the construction of proper, solid, earthquake-resistant buildings. We can see the results of these now. Thankfully, such an earthquake did not cause any serious damage to the physical structure of nearly 500 industrial establishments.”
“Orders will wait”
Şanlıurfa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairperson Mehmet Yetim informed that production in the industry has stopped due to the earthquake and said: “There’s no production, everything’s stopped. The staff can not come to work. Orders will wait.”
Malatya Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Oğuzhan Ata Sadıkoğlu stated that there are problems in production and disclosed: “Production is at a standstill due to electricity and natural gas shortages. Our workers are spending time with their families by necessity. Production is currently running at 25 percent capacity.”
Kilis Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Hacı Mustafa Celkanlı stated that there was no destruction in the factories in the organised industrial zones in Kilis.