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 initiated a comprehensive bunker construction program across all 81 provinces, aimed at enhancing civilian safety in the face of rising geopolitical tensions. This significant move follows recommendations from the National Intelligence Academy, which emphasized the necessity of minimizing civilian casualties in potential conflict situations. With this new initiative, the government seeks to create a network of easily accessible safe areas for citizens, especially in major metropolitan centers.
The bunkers will be strategically built beneath “national gardens” and various other locations throughout the country. These sites were selected to ensure that citizens have modern infrastructure readily available during emergencies. This construction program stands as a response to government assessments that identified current shelter infrastructure in Türkiye as inadequate for protecting civilians during wars and disasters.
Officials have finalized crucial updates to regulations governing the construction of emergency bunkers. Türkiye is currently operating under the “Bunker Regulation,” effective since 1987. This regulation mandates that specific building sizes must include bunkers, requiring at least 1 square meter of net bunker space per person, based on a calculation of four individuals for each independent unit. For facilities that accommodate people, such as dormitories, barracks, hotels, and hospitals, the regulation requires a calculation based on a 20% increase in the number of beds specified in approved architectural projects.
In practice, enforcement of these existing regulations has often been lax, resulting in many designated bunker areas being repurposed for parking or storage, rather than being maintained for emergency use. However, under the new program, emphasis will be placed on designing new bunkers to allow for rapid access during emergencies. These structures are intended to be durable and accessible not only during conflicts but also during various disasters and crises.
The government’s aim is to ensure enhanced safety for individuals across all regions of Türkiye. The newly constructed bunkers will be designed to withstand different emergency scenarios, focusing primarily on urban centers where demand for such structures is high. This approach will provide a network of accessible emergency bunkers where citizens can quickly seek protection in times of crisis.
A comprehensive study was conducted to learn from global examples, specifically examining bunker systems in countries like Israel, Japan, and Switzerland. This research informed Türkiye’s approach and design of the bunkers, ensuring they meet both safety standards and practical needs. The government has appointed TOKI, the national mass housing administration, as the entity responsible for the construction of these bunkers throughout the nation.
Construction work has already begun in several cities, with Ankara identified as a priority location for these developments. The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change is at the helm of this nationwide study, focusing on improving bunker infrastructure.
This initiative marks a new chapter in Türkiye’s commitment to ensuring civilian safety as the geopolitical landscape changes. As construction progresses, the government aims to not only provide protection for its citizens but also restore confidence in the safety measures offered during potential crises.
The purpose is to enhance civilian safety by constructing easily accessible bunkers across all provinces to protect citizens during potential conflicts and emergencies.
Bunkers will be built beneath “national gardens” and various other strategic locations throughout the country, especially in urban centers.
The national mass housing administration, TOKI, has been appointed to oversee the construction of bunkers throughout Turkey.
The current “Bunker Regulation” requires specific buildings to include at least 1 square meter of bunker space per person, calculated based on a minimum of four individuals for each independent unit.
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