IRIA News

Updated on February 19, 2023

More than 46,000 people have died in Turkiye and Syria as rescuers conducted operations to save survivors from beneath the rubble after a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked southeastern Turkiye, leaving destruction and debris on both sides.

Numbers have increased significantly as thousands were trapped under rubble after hundreds of buildings collapsed. The rescue operation continues in many regions but bad weather conditions and mountainous terrains hampered rescue operations after two major earthquakes and powerful aftershocks.

Turkish officials have confirmed the death toll passed 40,600 in the country. The death toll in Syria has climbed past 5,800, while thousands more are injured. More than 8,000 people have been pulled from the debris in Turkey across 10 provinces so far, and some 380,000 have taken refuge in government shelters or hotels, said Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay. 

The earthquake struck the Turkish city of Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras around 04:17 local time in the morning at a depth of about 17.9 kilometers. Many people were still asleep and got trapped under the collapsed buildings. Images and videos showed the true scale of the disaster. Entire buildings have been flattened, cars have toppled over, while bulldozers work to clear the debris.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared seven days of national mourning after the deadly earthquakes that hit the country. Turkish flags will fly at half-staff across the nation and at diplomatic missions abroad.

Devastation and deaths

More than 40,600 people were killed in 10 Turkish provinces, with more than 80,000 injured, according to the country’s officials. Earlier, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said they could not predict how much the death toll would rise as search operations are underway. According to some reports, more than 6,000 buildings have collapsed, while Turkish officials suggest that around 84,000 buildings have either been severely damaged, collapsed, or need urgent demolition.

According to Turkiye’s disaster management agency, more than 110,000 rescue personnel are taking part in the operations with the assistance of more than 5,500 vehicles, including cranes, tractors, and bulldozers.

The death toll in Syria climbed over 5,800, with thousands more injured, according to sources in Syria. Abdul Salam al Mahmoud, who lives in the Syrian town of Atareb, said it felt “like the apocalypse”. The casualty toll in northwestern Syria was expected to increase, a spokesperson for the U.N. Office for coordinating humanitarian affairs said. The earthquake leveled many buildings in war-torn Syria’s northwestern. The region hit by the earthquake is also home to thousands of Syrian refugees. Subzero temperatures and harsh weather conditions are adding to the suffering of the earthquake victims.

According to Syrian state television footage, rescue teams have been searching for survivors in heavy rain. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s office said in a statement that the president has held an emergency cabinet meeting to review the damage and discuss the next steps.

Strongest earthquake in decades

Seismologists said the first quake was one of the largest ever recorded in Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip, Erdoğan has described it as the worst disaster for the country since 1939, when an earthquake killed more than 32,000 people. Erdogan said offers for help had been received from some 45 countries in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake.

Hours after the first earthquake shook the southeastern part of Turkey, a second earthquake of magnitude 7.6 was recorded north of the first epicenter. The second earthquake struck at 13:24 local time in the Pazarcik district of Kahramanmaras province.

The first quake struck as people slept overnight, and measured magnitude 7.8, one of the most powerful quakes in the region in at least a century. The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said preliminary data showed the second large quake measured 7.7 magnitude in the northeast of Kahramanmaraş. The center clarified the second earthquake was “not an aftershock”.

According to preliminary reports, the second earthquake was felt as far as away the northwestern province of Sakarya, which is over 800 kilometers away from the epicenter as well as in the Turkish capital Ankara along with other provinces. Citizens who felt the earthquake took to the streets in panic while many reporters who had been reporting the devastation of the first earthquake captured the scenes during their live broadcasts.

The Turkish Red Crescent has called for citizens to make blood donations. The organization’s president Kerem Kinik said on Twitter that additional blood and medical products were being sent to the affected region.

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said 10 cities were affected by the initial quake, including Hatay, Osmaniye, Adiyaman, Malatya, Sanliurfa, Adana, Diyarbakir, and Kilis. The school has been suspended in those cities for at least a week as the school buildings will be used to shelter the victims.

Damage to energy infrastructure

The earthquake also caused serious damage to the energy infrastructure, particularly in the Kahramanmaraş province, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said. The devastating earthquake knocked out power and internet connectivity in southern parts of the country. According to web monitor NetBlocks, “The impact to communications may affect the public’s ability to seek assistance” as thousands of people have died due to earthquakes.

Condolences and assistance

The European Union has announced that it is sending search and rescue teams to Turkiye, while rescuers from the Netherlands and Romania are already on their way. The UK sent 76 search and rescue specialists, equipment, and rescue dogs to Turkey. Iran, France, Germany, Israel, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States have also sent help to affected regions. Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered help to both Turkey and Syria.

U.S. President Joe Biden has conveyed his condolences to those affected by the deadly quake and offered to send help. “I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by the earthquake in Turkiye and Syria,” Biden wrote on Twitter. “I have directed my team to continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with Turkiye and provide any and all needed assistance,” he added.