President Recep Tayyip Erdoan declared on Wednesday that more than 9,000 people have died as a result of the devastating earthquakes in Turkey.
After visiting the earthquake epicenter, Erdoan said that 9,057 people had died.
Speaking to reporters, President Erdoan stated that a total of 6,444 buildings were destroyed by the earthquake, and that a further 52,979 persons suffered injuries.
The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of Turkey reported that since Monday, there have been around 634 aftershocks related to the two significant earthquakes.
Vice President Fuat Oktay stated on Tuesday night that all airports were now being used to coordinate relief efforts, and that helicopters would continue to operate through the night. He continued, “Over 450,000 individuals have been finding refuge in dorms.”
Orhan Tatar, the director of the Directorate of Earthquake and Risk Reduction, urged everyone to avoid going into damaged structures since unpredicted aftershocks could lead them to collapse in an instant. Additionally, he urged people not to use their phones unless an emergency.
According to the official data from AFAD, there have been 648 aftershocks and two major earthquakes since Monday. These events also had an impact on sea levels, which increased particularly in the Iskenderun district of Hatay.
While buildings and places of business on the boulevard were evacuated owing to hazards, roads, squares, and workplaces in the coastal region are all under water.
The sea level increased on the coastline road in the ay neighborhood of Hatay’s Iskenderun district and inundated the region near Mete Aslan Boulevard following two significant earthquakes that hit Türkiye.
While it was noticeable that the sea did not recede despite the fact that it has been two days since the earthquake, those who went out into the streets following the earthquake were astonished that sea waters had swamped the roads.
The Iskenderun District Governorate also issued a warning to locals not to enter damaged homes because of the threat that seawater overflow in the coastal area may pose. After the incident, local markets were shuttered and residents made an effort to stay in parks.
In the meantime, rescue efforts are ongoing in all 10 provinces, and encouraging news is emerging from the worst-hit provinces, Hatay and Kahramanmaraş, where, among others, an 80-year-old man named Abdurrahman and a 3-year-old child named Arif Kaan were rescued from the wreckage.
The southeast of the nation was shaken by two powerful earthquakes on Monday. Several nearby nations in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, were also affected by the earthquakes. Over 2,500 people have died and many have been injured, mainly in Syria, which is already suffering from a civil war that has lasted ten years.
Turkey proclaimed a national week of mourning and the closure of all schools until February 13. A three-month state of emergency had also been proclaimed in the 10 provinces most severely affected by the devastating earthquakes, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdoan’s announcement made on Tuesday.
