Urfa's Siverek Castle heavily damaged in earthquakes

Photo: AA

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The historical Siverek castle dating back to the Assyrian period and giving its name to the local area has been severely damaged by the February 6 earthquakes.

The walls have been cracked and damaged, according to Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The previously restored eastern and southern walls of the fortress have been transformed into a pile of rubble.

"The two large earthquakes in Maraş have also destroyed our renovated Siverek's castle. The cracks and damages occurred in the existing structures of the castle," Siverek's Deputy Mayor Mustafa Koşar stated in an interview with state news agency Anadolu Agency. The local official reassured that restoration works will soon resume.

February 6 earthquakes

On February 6, two earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.7 and 7.6 struck the southern city of Maraş. The first quake in the Pazarcık district at 4.17 a.m. was followed by the second one in Elbistan about nine hours later.

The quakes affected 11 provinces in Türkiye's south and southeast, as well as Syria's northern parts. The official death toll from the quakes has already surpassed 50,000 and is expected to increase.

According to government figures, over 160,000 buildings were destroyed or severely damaged in Türkiye alone, including many historical buildings, such as the 18th century Mor Petrus and Mor Paulus church in Adiyaman, the castle of Antep, and the historical Yeni Cami mosque in Malatya. Nearly two million people have been displaced. (TY/WM)