On February 6, 2023, a catastrophic earthquake struck the central region of Turkey and northwest Syria with a magnitude of 7.8. The quake occurred at 04:17 local time and had a depth of 17.9 km (11 miles) near the city of Gaziantep.
The tremor was also felt in nearby countries such as Cyprus and Lebanon.
According to Turkey’s disaster agency, 76 individuals lost their lives and 440 people were injured in the quake. The disaster response team was immediately deployed along with supply aircraft to the area around the city of Kahramanmaras. The agency declared a “level 4 alarm,” which calls for international aid.
In Syria, the earthquake claimed the lives of at least 42 people, with fears that the death toll will continue to rise.
In Malatya province, north-east of Gaziantep, 23 fatalities were reported. 17 deaths were reported in Sanliurfa, with additional fatalities reported in Diyarbakir and Osmaniye.
The earthquake also caused widespread destruction, with several buildings, including a shopping mall, collapsing. The rescue operations are ongoing, and the authorities are doing everything in their power to provide aid and support to the affected individuals and families.
In times of natural disasters, it is imperative that we come together to support and assist those who have been impacted. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the earthquake, and we hope for a quick and smooth recovery.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings