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Hundreds Dead as Major Earthquake Hits Turkey, Syria

The EU’s Civil Protection mechanism has been activated and European rescue teams are on their way to the affected areas.
  • Tamás Orbán
  • — February 6, 2023
The EU’s Civil Protection mechanism has been activated and European rescue teams are on their way to the affected areas.
  • Tamás Orbán
  • — February 6, 2023

A major earthquake of 7.8 magnitude struck southern Turkey and Northern Syria on Monday morning, Reuters reports. Over 500 are reportedly dead with thousands injured as rescue teams go through collapsed buildings in search of survivors.

The epicenter of the quake was located just west of the Turkish city Gaziantep, with over two million residents, but other major population centers such as Adana and Aleppo in northern Syria have also been badly damaged. The earthquake was felt in Cyprus and Lebanon as well.

Hundreds dead after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southeast Turkey and northwest Syria.

🔴 Follow our LIVE blog for the latest: https://t.co/FLDmeb37UD pic.twitter.com/2wvkZaKMPd

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) February 6, 2023

According to the latest numbers from Turkey’s Vice President Fuat Oktay, 284 people have been killed by the quake in Turkey, and over 2,300 have been injured. After dispatching rescue teams and supplying aircraft to the area, Ankara also declared a ‘level 4 alarm’ which calls for international assistance. 

According to estimates, over 1,700 buildings could be destroyed, and the true number of casualties might be over a thousand, with more than 5,500 injured in Turkey alone.

🎥1 Scary footage of how the #earthquake struck #Turkey last night.

🎥2 A 6-story building in Urfa, Turkey falls over after earthquake

As per estimate over 1700 buildings have been destroyed with over 800 deaths

PM Modi extends condolences and offers help to all effected pic.twitter.com/B9CSpvRh2J

— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) February 6, 2023

At least eight Turkish provinces have been affected by the earthquake, most severely Gaziantep, Osmaniye, Adana, Kilis, and Hatay. President Erdogan is in close contact with all governors in the region and is overseeing the rescue operations. Footage shows that the historic Gaziantep Castle has been seriously damaged too.

❗🇹🇷 The Gaziantep Castle, which was built more than 2,200 years ago, collapsed during the earthquake.#Turkey #TurkeyEarthquake #earthquake #BreakingNews #deprem #Syria pic.twitter.com/tUljUHGKdE

— HAMDAN URDU NEWS (@waheedfalaksher) February 6, 2023

In Syria, government officials put the number of casualties at 237 along with at least 600 injuries, mostly in the provinces of Hama and Aleppo, where a significant portion of the infrastructure was already devastated by the decade-long civil war ravaging the country since 2011.

President Bashar al-Assad conveyed an emergency cabinet meeting to review the damage and decide on the next steps, his office announced. Dozens of buildings collapsed in Aleppo, Salqin, and the rebel-held Aziz; the true extent of the damage is yet to be seen. “Wounded people are still arriving in waves,” Aleppo’s health director, Ziad Hage Taha said.

Dramatic moment.. @akhbar #Syria #Turkey #earthquake #Lebanon pic.twitter.com/hOJuzqfno5

— wassim oraby (@wassimoraby) February 6, 2023

World leaders have been quick to offer not only their condolences but immediate assistance, including American, British, and EU leaders as well. According to U.S. officials, Washington is closely monitoring the situation. “I have been in touch with Turkish officials to relay that we stand ready to provide any and all needed assistance,” Jake Sullivan, the White House’s national security advisor said.

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

In Europe, the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Center is already working on the deployment of rescue teams from member states under the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism. The Netherlands and Romania already dispatched their teams, but officials promise that more countries are set to join them. “We stand in full solidarity with the people of Türkiye and Syria after the deadly earthquake that hit this morning,” wrote European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen on Twitter, adding that “Europe’s support is already on the way.”

We stand in full solidarity with the people of Türkiye and Syria after the deadly earthquake that hit this morning.

We mourn with the families of the victims.

Europe’s support is already on the way and we stand ready to continue helping in any way we can. https://t.co/inPsoE5hXf

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 6, 2023

The situation was addressed by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak too, who said the “UK stands ready to help whatever way we can.”

Tamás Orbán is a political journalist for The European Conservative, based in Brussels. Born in Transylvania, he studied history and international relations in Kolozsvár, and worked for several political research institutes in Budapest. His interests include current affairs, social movements, geopolitics, and Central European security. On Twitter, he is @TamasOrbanEC.
  • Tags: earthquake, level 4 alarm, Syria, Tamás Orbán, Turkey

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