Türkiye Earthquake Could Result in Loss of Up to 1% of Country's GDP in 2023

This handout photograph taken and released by Turkish agency DHA (Demiroren News Agency) shows smoke rising from burning containers at the harbor of Iskenderun in Hatay, a day after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's southeast, on February 7, 2023. (Photo by Handout / DHA (Demiroren News Agency) / AFP)
This handout photograph taken and released by Turkish agency DHA (Demiroren News Agency) shows smoke rising from burning containers at the harbor of Iskenderun in Hatay, a day after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's southeast, on February 7, 2023. (Photo by Handout / DHA (Demiroren News Agency) / AFP)
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Türkiye Earthquake Could Result in Loss of Up to 1% of Country's GDP in 2023

This handout photograph taken and released by Turkish agency DHA (Demiroren News Agency) shows smoke rising from burning containers at the harbor of Iskenderun in Hatay, a day after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's southeast, on February 7, 2023. (Photo by Handout / DHA (Demiroren News Agency) / AFP)
This handout photograph taken and released by Turkish agency DHA (Demiroren News Agency) shows smoke rising from burning containers at the harbor of Iskenderun in Hatay, a day after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's southeast, on February 7, 2023. (Photo by Handout / DHA (Demiroren News Agency) / AFP)

The potential economic effects of the earthquake in Türkiye could result in a loss of up to 1% of the country's gross domestic product this year, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said in a report published on Thursday.

The bank added this is a "reasonable estimate" due to the expected boost from reconstruction efforts later this year, which will offset the negative impact to infrastructure and supply chains, Reuters said.

"The earthquake affected to a large extent agricultural areas and areas where there is light manufacturing, so spillovers to other sectors are limited," EBRD chief economist Beata Javorcik told Reuters.

Türkiye and neighboring Syria have been rocked by a devastating earthquake on Feb. 6 which has killed more than 41,000 people and left millions in need of humanitarian aid, with many survivors having been left homeless in near-freezing winter temperatures.

Growth for Türkiye, the single biggest recipient of EBRD funds, has been revised down to 3% from 3.5% in 2023, without considering the impact of the earthquake in the estimates.

The bank added that growing external financing requirements and political uncertainty associated with elections in 2023 create significant economic vulnerabilities.

Türkiye’s earthquake has thrown into disarray plans for elections to be held by June, sparking frantic debate within President Tayyip Erdogan's government and the opposition over a possible delay.

"As depreciation of the Turkish lira outpaced inflation since 2015, Türkiye’s exports have been growing fast, benefiting from lower costs expressed in US dollars," the report added.

Türkiye’s lira hit a fresh record low on Wednesday.



Belgian Court Orders Regional Government to Stop Military Exports to Israel, Belga Reports

An Israeli flag is seen at the entrance to a school in Kibbutz Amir near Israel's border with Lebanon, in northern Israel, October 10, 2023. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
An Israeli flag is seen at the entrance to a school in Kibbutz Amir near Israel's border with Lebanon, in northern Israel, October 10, 2023. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
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Belgian Court Orders Regional Government to Stop Military Exports to Israel, Belga Reports

An Israeli flag is seen at the entrance to a school in Kibbutz Amir near Israel's border with Lebanon, in northern Israel, October 10, 2023. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
An Israeli flag is seen at the entrance to a school in Kibbutz Amir near Israel's border with Lebanon, in northern Israel, October 10, 2023. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

A court in Brussels on Thursday ordered the regional Flemish government to stop all transit of military equipment to Israel, Belgian news agency Belga reported.

The region is home to the Antwerp-Bruges port - one of the largest in Europe.