Ankara, The Indonesia Post – At least 3,381 people were killed and 20,426 injured in 10 Turkish provinces after two major earthquakes Monday (6/2) shook the south of the country, an official from the disaster agency said Tuesday.
Early Monday (6/2) morning, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook the Pazarcik district of Kahramanmaras province, then nine hours later, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake centered in Elbistan district in Kahramanmaras shook the region, affecting several other provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Sanliurfa.
The earthquake was also felt in several countries in the region, including Lebanon and Syria.
Orhan Tatar, general manager of risk reduction of the Presidency of Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD), said that 5,775 buildings collapsed.
He added that more than 24,000 rescue members were currently conducting search and rescue operations.
Turkey will be in national mourning for seven days after the deadly earthquake.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that with the earthquake, Turkey was shaken by the biggest disaster since the 1939 Erzincan earthquake.
“Our country has taken action with all its agencies since the earthquake. All resources have been mobilized,” Erdogan said at the AFAD office in the capital Ankara, where he is coordinating rescue and relief work.
Erdogan also called on the nation to be “one heart,” saying: “I hope we will leave these disastrous days in unity and solidarity as a nation and a nation.”
After the earthquake, condolences poured in from around the world in solidarity with Turkey, and many countries sent rescue and relief teams. (mhn/bbs)
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