Istanbul residents living in fear of post-quake building collapses

An aerial view of the Bagcilar district of Istanbul on March 10, 2023. Since the February 6 earthquake, the city's authorities have received more than 140,000 requests from people wishing to have their buildings tested. AFP - OZAN KOSE

The mayor of Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, is warning of a race against time after February's deadly earthquakes highlighted deficiencies in the country's construction industry, with thousands of buildings collapsing.

"We don't know when the earthquake will hit," said Ekrem Imamoglu, adding that to let people live in buildings that threaten their lives was "to knowingly let them die".