The city of Nurdağı in Turkey’s Gaziantep province was violently jolted awake in the early hours of Monday by a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake. The quake, which struck near the Syrian border, unleashed a trail of destruction, leaving at least 640 people dead and many more injured, as per the latest estimates.
The death toll continues to mount as rescue services have launched a massive operation in the region.
The Earthquake
The quake was followed by a 6.7 aftershock, the impact of which was felt across the region, including in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Cyprus. The Associated Press reported that, in addition to the several hundred deaths, more than 2,000 people have sustained injuries.
Absolutely horrific scenes out of city of Iskenderun #Turkey, vast devastation and destruction from magnitude 7.8 earthquake. People feared to be under rubble. Death toll already above 200… pic.twitter.com/7Fo6yIyut6
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) February 6, 2023
Tremors struck northern Syria, where several humanitarian camps house millions of refugees who fled the civil war. According to the New York Times, over 200 Syrians have died, with close to 640 injuries. The casualties were mainly from the Syrian cities of Aleppo, Hama, Latakia, and Tartous.
Turkey’s Reaction
Turkish officials expressed shock over the magnitude of the impact. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that “search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the areas affected by the earthquake.” He noted that Interior and Health ministries and the governorships of the affected areas are working “rapidly.”
WATCH: The only runway at Hatay Airport in southern Turkey tore open during the earthquake pic.twitter.com/TTykRNBYUQ
— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) February 6, 2023
“We hope that we will get through this disaster together as soon as possible and with the least damage, and we continue our work,” Erdoğan said.
The impact of the massive #earthquake in the streets of Gaziantep, southern Turkey.
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) February 6, 2023
Update- 1006 Killed & 5590 injured.#deprem #Idlib #Syria #DEPREMOLDU #TurkeyEarthquake #Turkey pic.twitter.com/n4ejuCz28l
The Turkish Defence Ministry announced that military and rescue units have been deployed to the affected provinces of Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Gaziantep, Diyarbakır, Adana, Hatay, Kilis, and Osmaniye. It also established a ‘Disaster Emergency Crisis Center’ for better coordination among different government agencies.
International Response
As the full extent of the tragedy continues to unfold, countries, organisations, and leaders have expressed their sympathies for the earthquake-related losses, with many promising to send rescue teams and humanitarian aid to Turkey and Syria.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan tweeted that Washington is “profoundly concerned” over the scale of destruction, saying American officials have been in touch with their Turkish counterparts. “We stand ready to provide any and all needed assistance,” Sullivan affirmed.
The U.S. is profoundly concerned by today’s destructive earthquake in Turkiye & Syria. I have been in touch with Turkish officials to relay that we stand ready to provide any & all needed assistance. We will continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with Turkiye.
— Jake Sullivan (@JakeSullivan46) February 6, 2023
The EU Commission for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič tweeted that the bloc has activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and rescue teams from the Netherlands and Romania are on their way to Turkey.
Expressing “deep sorrow” over the loss of lives, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen announced that the Foreign Ministry will “lead a rapid aid programme for Turkey to deal with the severe disaster.”
Anguished by the loss of lives and damage of property due to the Earthquake in Turkey. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. India stands in solidarity with the people of Turkey and is ready to offer all possible assistance to cope with this tragedy. https://t.co/vYYJWiEjDQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 6, 2023
Indian PM Narendra Modi said he was “anguished” by the loss of lives and damage to property. He added that his country is willing to provide “all possible assistance” to help Turkey get through the natural disaster.