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Türkiye's southeastern province of Maraş has been struck by a 7.7 earthquake at 4:17 am, according to The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD). Earlier reports indicated that the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.4. The epicenter was in Pazarcık, Maraş, close to the border with Syria.
Not even 12 hours later, at 13:24 PM today, another heavy earthquake hit the region with another heavy earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6. Its epicenter was in Elbistan, Maraş.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in a press statement at the AFAD Coordination Center, announced that at least 912 people lost their lives, 5.385 were injured, and 2.470 have been found alive under the rubble of collapsed buildings. However, the death toll will likely rise.
Earlier this morning, Türkiye's vice president Fuat Oktay announced that at least 284 were reported dead, 2.323 injured, and 1.710 buildings collapses in ten different cities.
The first quake occurred at a depth of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles). The AFAD indicated that 66 aftershocks hit the region as of 8:42 AM. Three aftershocks had a magnitude of over 6, with the strongest aftershock recorded at 6.6, 14 were over 5, and 34 aftershocks had were over 4. At 13:24, another heavy 7.6 earthquake occurred, with buildings tumbling on live television.
An aftershock with a magnitude of 6.6 hit Nurdağı, Antep, at 04:26 AM. Another aftershock with a magnitude of 6.5 hit the İslahiye district of the same province.
Collapsed buildings were reported in 10 cities in southeastern Türkiye, including Malatya, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Adana, and in Aleppo, Syria. Among the collapsed buildings are many public buildings, including the Iskenderun and Antakya state hospitals.
Deaths in 10 cities in Türkiye
In Maraş, at least 70 people lost their lives, 300 buildings were destroyed, and 200 people were injured, according to vice president Oktay.
In Hatay, at least 4 people died, and 200 buildings collapsed. Its airport is currently closed, as the earthquake ruptured its only runway. The AFAD building in Hatay has been demolished, according to CHP Deputy Chairman Seyit Torun. State hospitals in Iskenderun and Antakya are destroyed.
In Osmaniye, at least 20 people died, 200 were injured, and 83 buildings collapsed.
In Adıyaman, there are 13 reported casualties and 22 injured. Its post office has collapsed, as well as one of the city's largest hotels.
In Kilis, there are at least 80 deaths.
At least 47 lost their lives, and 550 have been injured in Malatya. Its historical Yeni Mosque has been partially destroyed. Earlier this morning, Malatya Governor Hulusi Şahin stated that 140 buildings collapsed.
Diyarbakır Governor Ali İhsan Su stated that six buildings collapsed. At least 14 people died, and 79 were injured.
In Şanlıurfa, as of this morning, 18 people lost their lives.
In Adana, 10 people are missing, and 118 are injured.
Gaziantep's historical castle collapsed.
Türkiye's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, in a statement this morning, announced that rescue teams are on their way and a level 4 alarm has been issued, which includes a call for international assistance. He furthermore emphasized that people should not enter damaged buildings.
Ali Erbaş, the head of the directorate of religious affairs, announced that the citizens could stay in the mosques as long as they needed.
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Dönmez, in a press statement at the AFAD coordination center in Adana, stated that energy infrastructures have been seriously damaged. Close to the epicenter in Türkoğlu, Maraş, an important pipeline carrying natural gas has been ruptured.
The Nation Alliance, Türkiye's largest oppositional block, has expressed its condolences to the families who lost relatives. Calling for national unity and to follow all advice given by AFAD strictly.
Death toll rises to at least 237 in Syria
The Health Ministry of Syria stated that the earthquake's death toll rose to 237 and 639 injuries, mostly in the Lattakia, Aleppo, Hama, and Tartous provinces. UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights currently estimates that at least 320 people died in Syria.
The earthquake's tremors were also felt in Egypt, Lebanon, and Iraq.
(YK/SD/PE/WM)
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