Over 6,200 killed as powerful earthquakes hit southern Türkiye

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) – At least 6,234 people were killed and 37,011 others injured in Türkiye after two strong earthquakes on Monday jolted the southern part of the country, the country’s disaster agency said on Wednesday.

The 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes, centered in the Kahramanmaras province, struck 10 provinces and affected more than 13 million people.

Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, felt the two major quakes that struck in Türkiye in the space of less than 10 hours.

More than 79,100 search and rescue teams are currently conducting operations in the field, Türkiye's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said in a statement.

"As a result of the negotiations with the Turkish Foreign Ministry, 5,309 personnel coming from other countries to help were dispatched to the disaster area," it added.

For search and rescue operations to be carried out rapidly, Türkiye on Tuesday declared a state of emergency for three months in 10 provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Sanliurfa.

"We are facing one of the biggest disasters not only of the history of the Turkish Republic but also of our geography and the world," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

Türkiye is observing a seven-day national mourning after the devastating quakes.

All national sports events in the country have been suspended until further notice. All schools in Türkiye will be closed until Feb. 13, and education in the 10 affected provinces are suspended until Feb. 20.

After the quakes, condolences poured in from around the world expressing solidarity with Türkiye, with many countries sending rescue teams and aid.