Updated: 09 Feb 2023
More than 15,000 people are reported to be killed by earthquake struck in central Turkey and north-west Syria where Thousands of buildings collapsed in both countries. Approx 12,391 people had died in Turkey and 2,992 in Syria, bringing the total to 15,383.
- At least 100 aftershocks measuring 4.0 or greater have occurred since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey on Monday morning local time, according to the United States Geological Survey.
- The first of two Indian disaster relief teams left for Turkey on Monday night, according to the Indian Air Force. The sixth plane from India carrying rescue personnel, essentials, and medical equipment for earthquake relief efforts has reached Turkey, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday.
- The Iranian aid arrived on Monday and the Iraqi aid was delivered early Tuesday morning local time, SANA reported.
- Japan has sent the country’s Disaster Relief Rescue Team in response to the earthquake in Turkey, according to a Monday statement by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- The Los Angeles County Fire Department is sending 78 members of their Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team to Turkey, the department announced in a news release.
- Ten units of the Russian army with a total of more than 300 soldiers are involved in clearing debris and helping in search and rescue operations in Syria.
- The medical organization Doctors Without Borders — also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) — responded to “overwhelming needs” following the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, according to a statement from the organization.
- Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD) is urging people to stay off the roads to help search and rescue efforts following the earthquake.
- The weather and the scale of the disaster are creating challenges for aid teams, according to Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca.
Three big earthquakes of 7.8, 7.6 and 6.0 magnitude hit Turkey & Syria early morning on Monday 06 February 2023. The last two earthquakes hit hours after the first killer temblor of 7.8 magnitude. in one of the most powerful quakes in the region in at least a century, while the two quakes tremor hours later threatened to overwhelm rescue efforts. Hundreds were still believed to be trapped under rubble, and the toll is expected to rise as rescue workers searched mounds of wreckage in cities and towns across the area.
The earthquake (Kahramanmaras earthquake) struck at 4:17 am local time (1:17am GMT) at a depth of about 17.9km (11 miles) near the Turkish city of Gaziantep, which is home to about 2 million people, the US Geological Survey said. The epicenter of the first quake was near Nurdagi in Gaziantep province, the Syria border. The second quake was near near Ekinozu in nearby Kahramanmaraş province; and the third near Goksun in the same province. Television images from Turkey showed shocked people standing in the snow watching rescuers dig through the debris of damaged homes.
Multiple strong aftershocks have been felt across the region for hours after the first quake, including a severe quake measuring magnitude 7.6. Turkey’s disaster agency appealed for help from the international community as it conducts search and rescue operations.
Turkey lies in one of the world’s most active earthquake zones. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday’s disaster was the worst the country had seen since 1939, when the Erzincan earthquake in eastern Turkey killed nearly 33,000 people.
However in 1999 there was another deadly quake which killed more than 17,000 in Turkey’s north-west.
India and other countries are rushing aid. PM Narendra Modi conveyed his condolences to those affected by the powerful quake and offered help to Turkey, PM said “India stands in solidarity with the people of Turkey and is ready to offer all possible assistance to cope with this tragedy”. The government has decided to send rescue teams, medical teams and relief material.
President Joe Biden has conveyed his condolences to those affected by the deadly quake and offered to send U.S. help to Turkey if needed.
Turkey’s minister of education said schools throughout the country’s 81 provinces would be closed until February 13 following the deadly earthquake.
While Turkey and Syria are reeling from the aftermath of the powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake, the impact was felt as far as Lebanon and Israel.
