Türkiye earthquake death toll exceeds 41,000 UPDATED

At least 41,020 people have been killed by two strong earthquakes that jolted southern Türkiye on Feb. 6, the country’s disaster management agency said on February 19.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 quakes were centred in Kahramanmaras and struck 10 other provinces – Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Hatay, Gaziantep, Malatya, Kilis, Osmaniye, Elazig and Sanliurfa. More than 13 million people have been affected by the devastating quakes, Anadolu informs.

Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, also felt the strong tremors that struck Türkiye in the space of fewer than 10 hours.

The quakes were followed by over 6,210 aftershocks, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said in a statement.

09:22 (February 17)

The death toll from Türkiye's devastating earthquakes has exceeded 38,000.

"According to the latest information, earthquakes killed 38,044 people in Kahramanmarash, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Osmaniye, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, and Elaziga. Since the first earthquake, the region has experienced over 4.7 thousand repeated tremors," Report informs, citing the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).

It should be noted that on February 6, earthquakes of magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 occurred at a 9-hour interval in the province of Kahramanmaras in southeastern Türkiye. The tremors were felt in 11 provinces and neighbouring states and were followed by hundreds of aftershocks.

12:38 (February 16)

The number of victims of earthquakes with an epicentre in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaras has reached 36,187 people.

The data as of February 16 was shared by the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), Anadolu reports. 

08:15

At least 35,418 people were killed by two strong earthquakes that jolted southern Türkiye on February 6, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on February 14, Anadolu reports.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 tremors last week were centred in Kahramanmaras and struck nine other provinces – Hatay, Gaziantep, Adiyaman, Malatya, Adana, Diyarbakir, Kilis, Osmaniye, and Sanliurfa. More than 13 million people have been affected by the devastating quakes.

Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, also felt the strong tremors that struck Türkiye in the space of fewer than 10 hours.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara, Erdogan said that "13,208 injured are still receiving treatment in our hospitals."

More than 249,000 search and rescue personnel are currently working in the field, the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said in a statement.

Almost 195,962 people have been evacuated from the quake-hit regions so far, according to AFAD.

Condolences have poured in from around the world expressing solidarity with Türkiye, with many countries sending rescue teams and aid.

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said a total of 15 babies affected by the earthquakes were brought to a hospital in Ankara for comprehensive health checks.

A total of 9,046 foreign personnel from 82 nations are currently working in the disaster zone, the country's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

It also said that 100 countries had offered assistance so far, with two more expected to send rescue teams.

Besides rescue teams, blankets, tents, food, and psychological support teams, along with over 12,300 vehicles, including excavators, tractors, and bulldozers, were also sent to the affected areas.

More than 227,762 tents, 2,607,390 blankets, and 48,271 containers have been sent to the 10 worst-hit provinces, said AFAD.

After the initial earthquake, an air bridge was established by the Turkish Armed Forces to deliver relief supplies and search and rescue teams to the region.

A large fleet of aircraft, including A-400Ms, carried search and rescue teams and vehicles to the region. Ambulance planes are also using the air bridge.

Rescue and relief personnel and materials were sent to the region with 170 helicopters and 76 aircraft, AFAD said.

A total of 26 ships were also assigned to the region for personnel and material shipment and for evacuation.

15:17 / 14.02.2023

The death toll from last week's powerful earthquakes in southern Türkiye climbed to 31,974, Anadolu reports, citing the disaster agency.

13:50 /13.02.2023

The death toll in Türkiye has risen to 31,643, according to the country’s disaster management authority.

The latest update brings the overall toll in both Turkey and Syria to at least 36,000, Al Jazeera informs.

08:05

Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) reported on February 13 that 29,605 people lost their lives and 80,278 people were injured in the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye, Sabah informs.

Two consecutive quakes jolted ten southwestern provinces of the country on February 6 affecting a total of 13.5 million people.

10:38 / 10.02.2023

Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) reported on February 10 that 18,342 people lost their lives and 74,242 people were injured in the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye, Caliber.Az informs.

Two consecutive quakes jolted ten southwestern provinces of the country on February 6 affecting a total of 13.5 million people.

07:48

The number of victims of two devastating earthquakes with an epicentre in the province of Kahramanmarash in Türkiye reached 17,674 people and 72,879  were injured. A total of 6,644 residential properties were destroyed.

The latest data was provided on February 9 by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who visited the province of Osmaniye, Anadolu reports.

The head of state recalled that the consequences of the devastating aftershocks were felt by the residents of ten provinces of Türkiye.

18:08 / 09.02.2023

The death toll in Türkiye's earthquakes has risen to 16,170 people.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the remarks in his speech in Osmaniya on February 9, Report informs.

As a result of the natural disaster, 64 194 people were injured.

10:47

At least 12,873 people were killed and 62,937 others injured after two strong earthquakes jolted southern Türkiye on February 6, the country's disaster agency said on February 9.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes, centred in the Kahramanmaras province, were felt across 10 provinces, Anadolu reports.

More than 13 million people have been affected in Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Sanliurfa.

Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, felt the strong tremors that struck Türkiye in less than 10 hours.

More than 113,200 search and rescue personnel are currently conducting operations in the field, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said in a statement.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday inspected the ongoing search and rescue, as well as relief efforts in Adana, Hatay and Kahramanmaras provinces, as well as one of the epicentres Pazarcik, where he met victims in tent cities.

Meanwhile, on February 8, first lady Emine Erdogan visited 16 infant survivors who had been airlifted from Kahramanmaras to a hospital in the capital Ankara.

Türkiye has mobilized all the resources for post-quake efforts, Erdogan said, adding: "The state is working with municipalities, especially with the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), with all its means."

For search and rescue operations to be carried out rapidly, Türkiye on February 7 announced a three-month state of emergency in the quake-hit provinces.

In addition, Türkiye is observing seven days of national mourning after the devastating quakes.

All national sports events in the country have been suspended until further notice. Schools nationwide will be closed until February 13, and education in the 10 affected provinces is on hold until February 20.

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

08:00

As a result of the earthquake in Türkiye, as of early February 9, 12,391 people were killed, 62,914 people were injured and over 6,444 buildings were destroyed.

The latest data was compiled by the Turkish Government's Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), TRT Haber reports.

19:50 / 09.02.2023

As a result of the earthquake in Türkiye 9,057 people were killed, 52,979 people were injured and 6,444 buildings were destroyed.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this in Hatay, Anadolu Agency reports.

15:13

The death toll from the earthquake with its epicentre in the province of Kahramanmarash inTürkiye reached 8,574, while 49,133 people were injured, and 6,444 buildings were destroyed.

According to Anadolu, the data as of now on February 8 was published by the Turkish Government's Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

13:17

The number of victims of two devastating earthquakes with an epicentre in Türkiye's Kahramanmarash province reached 7,108, while 40,910 people were injured.

The data as of 10.35 am local time on February 8 was published by the Turkish Emergency Management Department (AFAD), according to Anadolu.

According to AFAD, the tremors caused casualties and destruction in the Turkish provinces of Kahramanmarash, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Osmaniye, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, and Elazig.

A total of 5,775 residential buildings were destroyed.

Some 50,818 tents have been set up for residents of the disaster zone.

More than 79,000 people are involved in search and rescue operations.

12:17

The number of earthquake victims in Türkiye has risen to 6,957, with 38,224 injured, Anadolu reports.

10:59

Death toll from the February 6 powerful earthquakes in southern Türkiye climbs to 6,234, the country's disaster agency AFAD says in a statement.

AFAD put the number of injured from the massive quakes centred in Kahramanmaras province at 37,011, Anadolu reports.

As many as 5,775 buildings collapsed, he said. More than 8,000 people have been rescued from the rubble of the buildings.

09:13 

Turkish presidential aide Fuat Oktay said on February 7 that a total of 5,894 citizens have lost their lives in the earthquake so far, Anadolu informs.

Oktay added that the work continues at full speed in the earthquake zones, where 5,775 buildings were destroyed injuring 34,810.

According to him, 8,000 people were rescued from the rubble as of late February 7.

"There are 4,794 construction machines at the earthquake sites and 3,251 people are involved in the search and rescue teams from foreign countries, and 2,400 search and rescue workers would come from more foreign countries," Oktay said, adding nearly 1,500 additional search and rescue teams from Türkiye will be sent to the quake-hit areas.

Currently, a total of 60,218 people from all units are involved in search and rescue operations, according to him.

23:35 / 07.08.2023

The death toll in Türkiye from Monday's Kahramanmaras-centered massive earthquakes has risen to 5,434, according to the national disaster agency, with more than 31,000 injured, Anadolu Agency reported.

The other provinces affected by the tremors are Gaziantep, Hatay, Osmaniye, Adiyaman, Malatya, Sanliurfa, Adana, Diyarbakir and Kilis.

The UN announced $25 million in humanitarian aid for Türkiye and Syria following deadly earthquakes that have claimed more than 6,000 lives.

It will help provide urgent lifesaving assistance to the region, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters at UN headquarters.

22:03

At least 4,544 people across 10 provinces died and an additional 26,721 were injured in Türkiye.

Some people who were trapped under rubble live-streamed their pleas for help on social media. Around 11,302 buildings collapsed in 10 provinces across Türkiye, according to Anadolu Agency.

Early Monday, a 7.7-magnitude tremor struck southern Türkiye’s Kahramanmaras province. Nine hours later, a 7.6-magnitude tremor also rocked the region, affecting several provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Sanliurfa.

17:20

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that at least 3,549 people were killed and 22,168 others injured in 10 provinces after two strong earthquakes in Türkiye.

"Our biggest relief is that over 8,000 of our citizens have been rescued from the rubble so far," Anadolu quotes him as saying.

He said that "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". 

 13:04

At least 3,419 have been killed in Türkiye after a major earthquake hit the country, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay says.

An official from the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), Orhan Tatar, told a media briefing that 20,426 people had been injured and 5,775 buildings destroyed in the tremor, which 285 aftershocks had followed, Al Arabiya English reports.

The earthquake rocked large parts of Turkey and neighbouring Syria in the pre-dawn hours of Monday.

The quake was centred in Turkey’s southeastern province of Kahramanmaras and was felt as far away as Cairo in Egypt. Hours later, a second 7.5 magnitude jolt, which was possibly an aftershock, struck more than 100 kilometres (60 miles) away from the epicentre of the earthquake and caused more destruction.

Turkish authorities said more than 3,700 buildings were destroyed.

The number of earthquake victims in Türkiye is approaching 3,400.

The death toll from Turkey's devastating earthquake has risen to 3,381, Anadolu reports.

Another 20,424 people were injured, according to Yunus Cesar, the head of the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).

08:00

Turkish relief organisation AFAD's President Yunus Sezer revealed on February 7 night the latest casualty numbers in a last-minute statement regarding the outcomes of earthquakes with an epicentre in Kahramanmarash city.

"2 thousand 921 people have lost their lives. We have 15 thousand 834 injured. There are requests for help and support from 65 countries. There is intense work with our 16 thousand 400 personnel and foreign personnel," he said, according to CNN Turk.

"We provide both tents and shelter and send them to the disaster area. Hopefully, we plan to direct our search and rescue personnel there as soon as the weather allows."

A series of earthquakes struck Türkiye on February 6 with the strongest measuring a 7.7 magnitude on the Richter scale.

06.02.2023 / 20:05

Some 1,541 people died on February 6 as a result of two powerful earthquakes in the southeastern part of Türkiye.

According to TASS, this was announced by the vice president of the republic Fuat Oktay.

“As a result of earthquakes, 1,541 people died, and 9,733 of our citizens suffered. According to the latest data, 3,471 buildings collapsed,” he said at a press conference in Ankara.

18:55

Türkiye earthquake death toll rises to 1,498

According to Gazeta.ru, this was announced by the Turkish authorities.

Earlier it was reported about 1,121 dead.

An earthquake of magnitude 7.7 struck Türkiye on the morning of February 6. The epicentre was the Pazarcik district in Kahramanmarash. Tremors were also felt in Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Kayseri, Mersin, Trabzon and Urfa. The highest alert level has been declared in the country.

Tremors on Monday also occurred in Syria, Iraq, and Libya. According to the latest data, 430 people were killed in Syria, and 1,315 were injured.

17:57

The number of victims of an earthquake with an epicentre in the southeastern Turkish province of Kahramanmarash has reached 1,121, 7,634 people were injured. 2,834 buildings were destroyed.

This was reported to "Anadolu" by Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

At least 1,014 people were killed and 5,385 others injured in 10 provinces after a strong earthquake jolted southern Türkiye on the morning of February 6, Anadolu reports, citing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Describing the earthquake as the "biggest disaster" since the 1939 Erzincan earthquake.

Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said the 7.7 magnitude quake struck at 4.17 a.m. (0117GMT) and was centred in the Pazarcik district in Türkiye’s southern province of Kahramanmaras. The quake occurred at a depth of 7 kilometres (4.3 miles).

AFAD said in a statement that 78 aftershocks occurred following the earthquake.

Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis provinces are heavily affected by the quake.

The president talked to the mayors of Adana, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis on the phone and received information about the search and rescue activities, according to the Turkish presidency.

"The number of people rescued from the rubbles has reached 2,470. The number of buildings that collapsed is 2,818," Erdogan said.

Vice President Fuat Oktay said at a news conference that Erdogan has been following and managing the event since the moment of the earthquake.

Erdogan is currently at the AFAD office in the capital Ankara to coordinate the rescue and relief works.

Oktay added that Hatay Airport is currently closed to flights, saying they have also closed Kahramanmaras and Gaziantep to civil flights.

"102 mobile base stations have been sent to the earthquake zones so far," Oktay said.

He also called on all media organizations, institutions, and organizations to rely on official statements in order not to cause information pollution.

The vice president also said all schools in these 10 provinces are closed for a week. Meanwhile, National Education Minister Mahmut Ozer said schools in Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Adana, Osmaniye, and Kilis provinces would be closed for one week.

"As of today, we are taking a two-week break from education in Kahramanmaras, Hatay, Adiyaman, and Malatya provinces," Ozer added.

Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Kasapoglu said all national sports organizations to be held in Türkiye have been suspended until further notice.

The earthquake was also felt in several countries in the region, including Lebanon and Syria.