A massive earthquake hit southeast Turkey, near the border with Syria on Monday 6th February 2023. Seismometers that have collected the data show that the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.8 out of 10 on the moment magnitude scale.
Here are the latest updates on what’s actually happening-
- An estimate of more than 4,300 people have been killed in the effects of the earthquake according to the officials and agencies.
- Thousands of buildings have been reported to be collapsed. Aid agencies in the area are particularly worried about northwestern region of Syria where close to 5 million people were already relying on humanitarian assistance.
- This earthquake is reported to be one of the strongest to hit the region in more than a hundred years. The earthquake struck 23 kilometers (14.2 miles) east of Turkey’s Gaziantep province, Nurdagi. It had a depth of 24.1 kilometers (14.9 miles) as stated by the US Geological Survey.
Turkey’s Disaster Management and Rescue Teams
The Disaster Management and Emergency Management Agency of Turkey (AFAD) has requested its people to steer clear of the streets and keep the areas open to aid the rescue team’s efforts following the disaster.
“Please leave the roads open and do not go into traffic unless necessary so the search and rescue teams and the emergency vehicles that are directed to the earthquake zones can carry out their work,” the agency tweeted Monday.
300,000 blankets, 24.712 beds and 19,722 tents were deployed in the earthquake affected areas, AFAD reported.
The agency further notified that to provide “psycho-social” support services to those affected, 765 personnel workers and 50 vehicles were sent to the earthquake affected areas.
Nations Rush to Rescue
Leading nations like Australia and New Zealand on Monday announced a combined total aid of $11.5 million for victims of the earthquake.
In a joint news conference on Tuesday, Australian Prime Minister- Anthony Albanese stated that the country will provide and initial $10 million in humanitarian assistance through agencies like Red Cross, Red Crescent and others.
“Australia’s assistance will target those in greatest need.” he further said.
The New Zealand Prime Minister- Chris Hipkins, who was on his first state visit to Australia pledged that Wellington will contribute $1.5 million.
According to the Indian Air Force, the first of two Indian disaster relief teams have left for Turkey in Monday night.
Indian Air Force on Tuesday tweeted that a C-17, a strategic transport aircraft, left for Turkey “bearing search and rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).”
Japan has also sent its Disaster Relief Rescue Team in a response to the earthquake in Turkey, according to a statement by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department has also sent over 78 members of their Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team to Turkey
Stay Live with The Enterprise World :
