"Turkish earthquake: Rents increased as survivors move west in search of safety."."

In Turkish cities, rental prices have increased by100 percent as survivors of devastating earthquakes seek safe shelter. An official from the Turkish ruling party told Middle East Eye that after the double earthquakes on February6, at least1.5 million citizens have left the provinces of Hatay, Adıyaman, and Malatya.

The number of deaths from earthquakes in Turkey and Syria is approaching42,000, while Turkish authorities claim that at least36,187 people have died in the country alone. A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of7.8 occurred near the southern city of Kahramanmarash, causing destruction in the northwestern part of Syria, the last refuge for the opposition. Tens of thousands of buildings are completely destroyed, and others have become uninhabitable, which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called "the catastrophe of the century."

Survivor from Gaziantep, Hüseyin Orhan, said that he is trying to find a new place to live in the capital Ankara, but rental prices are too high. "Speculators have doubled rental prices," he said. "We visited five different buildings, and all of them have seen astronomical price hikes."

Several real estate agencies have confirmed that rental prices have significantly increased compared to a few weeks ago.

Hakan Akdjam, the chairman of the Real Estate Chamber in Ankara, stated that prices have risen by25-57 percent. A member of the country's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), also confirmed that rental prices for apartments in the southern port city of Mersin have doubled. "The number of speculators has indeed increased in the city of Mersin," said Ali Mahir Basaryr. "Apartments that used to cost5,000 Turkish lira ($265) are now being advertised at10,000 ($530)."

Real estate experts are urging authorities to ensure that earthquake survivors rent empty houses. However, real estate lawyer Bahri Godeoglu said that under the current legislation, no sanctions can be imposed on owners who raise rents. He added that the legislation protects the owner's interests before signing a lease.