UPDATE - All resources mobilized in Türkiye after powerful quakes, says President Erdogan

ADDS PRESIDENT ERDOGAN'S TALKS WITH VICTIMS, CHANGES DECK

By Diyar Guldogan and Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - Türkiye has taken action with all its institutions and resources since Monday's deadly earthquakes in its southern provinces, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

"We have mobilized all our resources. The state is working with municipalities, especially AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency), with all its means," Erdogan said as he inspected relief efforts in Kahramanmaras province, where two powerful quakes that shook the region were centered, affecting nine other provinces and more than 13 million people.

Erdogan said that at least 8,574 people were killed and 49,133 others injured in Türkiye after the earthquakes, which were also felt in nearby countries, including Syria and Lebanon.

Erdogan added that a total of 6,444 buildings collapsed due to the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude quakes that occurred in the space of less than 10 hours.

Noting that certain hotels in the provinces of Mersin and Antalya, including Alanya district, had opened their doors to earthquake victims, Erdogan said: "Our citizens should not worry. We will never leave them unsheltered."

The Turkish president later met with the earthquake victims and pledged to rebuild the region as part of a one-year-long plan.

Erdogan offered to temporarily shelter the victims at hotels in Antalya city if they wished to relocate.

"We will overcome this disaster as soon as possible. As we re-build the houses, the debris will be removed within a one-year plan and we will begin the construction," he added.