Turkey earthquake – live: Death toll crosses 600 in Turkey and Syria as thousands injured
A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southeast Turkey and Syria early on Monday, toppling buildings and leaving at more than 600 dead – with the toll expected to rise.
The quake, centred close to the southeastern city of Gaziantep, about 90km from the Syrian border, left a huge trail of destruction in both countries and was felt as far away as Cairo. It led Italy to issue a potential tsuanmi alert.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter that “search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched” to the areas hit by the quake. More than 280 people have been killed in the country, with more than 2,300 injured.
“We hope that we will get through this disaster together as soon as possible and with the least damage,” Mr Erdogan wrote.
On the Syrian side of the border, the quake smashed opposition-held regions in the northwest, with rescuers saying 147 people had died. A government health official said more than 237 people had been killed and about 600 injured in government-held areas, most in the provinces of Hama, Aleppo and Latakia.
Key Points
Strong 7.8 magnitude earthquake hits Turkey
Death toll climbs up to 500 in Turkey and Syria
At least 130 buildings tumbled down in Turkey's Malatya province, says governor
Situation in Syria 'disastrous' with many trapped in rubble, officials say
'Hope that we will get through this disaster together,' says Erdogan
Map of Turkey shows where massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck
08:23 , Stuti Mishra
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey at 4.17am local time on Monday in the southeastern area near the Syrian border, according to the US Geological Survey.
The map shows the epicentre of the quake was near the city of Gaziantep at a depth of 17.9km, impacting around seven provinces in Turkey and a large area in northern Syria.
More details:
Map of Turkey shows where massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck
At least 147 dead in Syria's opposition controlled areas as rescuers urge international help
09:55 , Chris Stevenson
An opposition emergency organisation in Syria called The White Helmets said on Twitter that 147 people had died and more than 340 were injured in Syria in areas where it operates because of the earthquake that struck Turkey.
“The toll may increase as many families are still trapped,” it wrote. “Our teams are on the ground searching for survivors and removing the dead from the rubble.”
The #earthquake in NW #Syria has claimed 147 lives & injured over 340. The toll may increase as many families are still trapped. Our teams are on the ground searching for survivors & removing the dead from the rubble. pic.twitter.com/vQhYZAiGRM
— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) February 6, 2023
In a video shared by the organisation, a rescuer can be heard urging for help as he says the death toll can rise to thousands.
“It’s a very difficult test for us, we need help,” he says. “We need international community to do something.”
NW #Syria in a state of catastrophe after 7.8 magnitude #earthquake. Destruction, devastation, and collapse of buildings. Hundreds of injuries, dozens of deaths, many trapped under the rubble or stranded in the winter cold. We call on the international community to take action. pic.twitter.com/rtzqRJa8IP
— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) February 6, 2023
Akkuyu nuclear power plant
09:49 , Chris Stevenson
Turkey’s Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which is currently under construction, was not damaged by the earthquake, an official from the Russian company building the plant has said.
“Earth tremors of about magnitude 3 were felt here … but our specialists have not revealed any damage to building structures, cranes and equipment,” Anastasia Zoteeva from Russia’s state nuclear energy company Rosatom, told Reuters.
Turkish military sets up air aid corridor to reach earthquake zone
09:40 , Stuti Mishra
The Turkish armed forces have set up an air corridor to enable search and rescue teams to reach the zone affected by the major earthquake in southern Turkey, the country’s defence ministry has said.
“We mobilised our planes to send medical teams, search and rescue teams and their vehicles to the earthquake zone,” the statement cited defence minister Hulusi Akar as saying.
More than 600 now confirmed dead
09:28 , Stuti Mishra
More than 600 people have been confirmed dead as officials continue to update the tally after the devastating earthquake hit Turkey and Syria this morning.
With hundreds injured, the death toll of 641 is expected to rise as rescue workers search through rubble in cities and towns across the area.
Turkey's Iskenderun port damaged, says maritime authority
09:20 , Stuti Mishra
Turkey’s maritime authority said today that the Iskenderun port located in the southern Turkish province of Hatay is damaged due to the major earthquake.
Following its damage inspections, the authority said on Twitter that operations continue in ports besides Iskenderun.
No damage to Akkuyu nuclear power plant, says Russian news agency
09:11 , Stuti Mishra
No damage has been reported to the under-construction Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey, RIA has reported quoting Rosatom.
Earlier checks were being carried out at the construction site.
'UK stands ready to help,' says Rishi Sunak
08:59 , Stuti Mishra
The British prime minister Rishi Sunak has said that the UK is ready to offer assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake that has killed over 500 people in Turkey and Syria.
"My thoughts are with the people of Turkey and Syria this morning, particularly with those first responders working so valiantly to save those trapped by the earthquake" he tweeted.
"The UK stands ready to help in whatever way we can."
My thoughts are with the people of Türkiye and Syria this morning, particularly with those first responders working so valiantly to save those trapped by the earthquake.
The UK stands ready to help in whatever way we can.— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) February 6, 2023
More pictures show rescuers scrambling through mountains debris
08:46 , Stuti Mishra
Turkey issues state-wise figures for deaths reported so far
07:59 , Stuti Mishra
Announcing that the death toll has risen to 284 from the earthquake, the country's vice president Fuat Oktay has issued state-wise figures speaking at a news conference a while ago.
Mr Oktay said 70 people were killed in the province of Kahramanmaras, where the quake epicentre was located, along with 20 people in Osmaniye, 18 in Sanliurfa, 14 in Diyarbakir and 13 in Adiyaman.
Officials were in the process of identifying more victims as rescuers continue to scramble through mountains of debris in seven impacted provinces.
The earthquake has left 2,323 people injured with the death toll feared to rise further
No damage to Russian military facilities, says Moscow
07:57 , Stuti Mishra
Russia’s defence ministry said that its military facilities had not been damaged by the major earthquake that struck central Turkey and northwest Syria, Reuters reports.
Russia, which is closely allied with the Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad, maintains a significant military presence in the country.
Death toll in Turkey-Syria earthquake now stands at 500
07:39 , Stuti Mishra
Turkey's vice president Fuat Oktay said 284 people had been killed and 2,323 people were injured in the country, as authorities scrambled rescue teams and supply aircraft to the affected area, while declaring a "level 4 alarm" that calls for international assistance.
In Syria, a government health official said more than 237 people had been killed and some 600 injured, most in the provinces of Hama, Aleppo and Latakia, already devastated by more than 11 years of civil war, where numerous buildings tumbled down.
In the Syrian rebel-held northwest, a rescue service said dozens had been killed.
The toll now stands at at least 500 confirmed deaths with fears the number of casualties can rise further.
Live: View from Diyarbakir after 7.8 magnitude earthquake hits Turkey
07:30 , Stuti Mishra
Italy withdraws tsunami warning after Turkey, Syria earthquake
07:15 , Stuti Mishra
Italian authorities said on Monday they had withdrawn a tsunami warning for the country’s southern coast that was raised after a major earthquake struck central Turkey and northwest Syria, killing hundreds of people.
Italy’s Civil Protection Department had issued a statement recommending people to move away from coastal areas but later reduced the alert and tweeted that it had been withdrawn.
Train traffic in the southern regions of Sicily, Calabria and Apulia had been temporarily halted as a precaution but resumed in the morning, the agency said in the statement.
No damage detected to oil pipelines, says Turkish energy company
07:05 , Stuti Mishra
Turkish energy company Botas has denied any damage has been detected to an oil pipeline after earthquake.
A video was circulating on social media with the claim that a gas Pipeline near the City of KahramanmaraÅ in Southern Turkey has exploded and is burning out of control.
The company said gas supplies had been halted in some areas due to precautionary reasons.
Death toll climbs up to 300
06:54 , Stuti Mishra
Turkey's disaster agency said 76 people had been killed, and 440 hurt, as authorities scrambled rescue teams and supply aircraft to the affected area, while declaring a "level 4 alarm" that calls for international assistance.
A Syrian health official said more than 230 people had been killed and some 600 injured there, most in the provinces of Hama, Aleppo and Latakia, where numerous buildings tumbled down.
The death toll is now over 300 with fears that it could go further up.
Tsunami alert issued in Italy after Turkey earthquake
06:34 , Stuti Mishra
Italian authorities have issued a tsunami alert after a massive earthquake struck Turkey, early today morning.
In a tweet, an authority warned residents to stay away from coasts and to follow instructions issued by local government bodies.
🔴 ALLERTA POSSIBILE #MAREMOTO SULLE COSTE ITALIANE in seguito all'evento sismico in #Turchia. Si raccomanda di allontanarsi dalla costa e di seguire le indicazioni delle autorità locali
[Aggiornamento #6febbraio ore 3:15] https://t.co/N6XMaK9TQz— Dipartimento Protezione Civile (@DPCgov) February 6, 2023
Death toll reaches almost 200 in Turkey and Syria after 'devastating earthquake'
05:53 , Stuti Mishra
Turkey’s disaster and emergency management agency said the 7.8 magnitude earthquake has killed at least 76 people in seven Turkish provinces with 440 people left injured.
The news was announced as rescuers scrambled in areas across southeast Turkey for the last two hours to search for people trapped in toppled apartment blocks and other buildings.
Suleyman Soylu, the Turkish interior minister, called the shock a “devastating earthquake” and said the armed forces were assisting civilian agencies in the rescue effort.
Meanwhile, the death toll in government-held areas of Syria from Monday’s quake climbed to 99, according to Syrian state media citing the health ministry. In addition, at least 334 people were injured in Syria. Earlier, 20 people were reported killed in rebel-held areas of Syria.
This raises the overall death toll to 195 in Turkey and Syria.
In pictures: Major earthquake reduces buildings to rubble in Turkey and Syria
05:43 , Stuti Mishra
Total 42 aftershocks felt in two hours since earthquake, Turkey's disaster ministry says
05:21 , Stuti Mishra
According to Turkey’s ministry of interior disaster and emergency management, a total of 42 aftershocks have been felt in the two hours since the quake first struck at 4.17am local time.
“As of 6:30am, a total of 42 aftershocks, the largest of which was 6.6, were experienced,” the ministry said in a tweet in Turkish.
Kahramanmaraş ilimizin Pazarcık ilçesinde meydana gelen 7,4 büyüklüğündeki #deprem sonrasında; saat 06.30 itibarıyla en büyüğü 6,6 olmak üzere toplam 42 artçı sarsıntı yaşanmıştır.
— AFAD (@AFADBaskanlik) February 6, 2023
Death toll rises to 76 in Turkey
05:19 , Stuti Mishra
Turkey’s disaster management agency has revised the death toll to 76 as rescuers find hundreds trapped under the rubble with casualty figures feared to increase further.
The latest figures released by Turkey’s disaster agency at least 440 people been injured, as the death toll continues to climb.
AFAD, merkezi Kahramanmaraş'ın Pazarcık ilçesi olan 7,4 büyüklüğündeki depremde saat 06.30 itibarıyla 7 ilde 76 kişinin yaşamını yitirdiğini, 440 kişinin yaralandığını açıkladı. pic.twitter.com/QKc6cgJYe5
— ANADOLU AJANSI (@anadoluajansi) February 6, 2023
Situation in Syria 'disastrous' with many trapped in rubble, officials say
05:02 , Stuti Mishra
Major damage has been reported in interior regions of northern Syria, which includes opposition-ruled states, a fragile infrastructure and a vulnerable population of millions of people internally displaced by war.
The opposition's Syrian Civil Defense described the situation in the rebel-held region as "disastrous" adding that entire buildings have collapsed and people are trapped under the rubble.
The civil defence urged people to evacuate buildings to gather in open areas.
Emergency rooms were full of injured, said Amjad Rass, president of the Syrian American Medical Society.
At least 11 were killed in one town, Atmed, and many more were buried in the rubble, a doctor in the town, Muheeb Qaddour, told The Associated Press by telephone.
"We fear that the deaths are in the hundreds,” Mr Qaddour said, referring to the rebel-held northwest. “We are under extreme pressure.”
At least 130 buildings tumbled down in Turkey's Malatya province, says governor
05:02 , Stuti Mishra
At least 130 buildings tumbled down in Turkey's Malatya province, neighbouring the epicentre, governor Hulusi Sahin said.
In the Turkish city of Diyarbakir, at least 15 buildings collapsed.
Rescue teams called for silence as they listed for survivors in a toppled 11-story building.
There were at least 6 aftershocks, and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu urged people not to enter damaged buildings due to the risks.
"Our priority is to bring out people trapped under ruined buildings and to transfer them to hospitals," he said.
'Hope that we will get through this disaster together,' says Erdogan
04:57 , Stuti Mishra
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter that “search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched” to the areas hit by the quake.
“We hope that we will get through this disaster together as soon as possible and with the least damage,” he wrote.
Biz de yaşanan deprem sonrası başlatılan çalışmaları koordine ediyoruz. Yaşadığımız bu felaketi inşallah hep birlikte en kısa sürede ve en az hasarla atlatmayı temenni ediyor, çalışmalarımızı sürdürüyoruz.
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) February 6, 2023
Turkey and Syria quake deaths cross 100
04:46 , Stuti Mishra
A Syrian health official says the death toll in Syria from Turkey‘s earthquake is now at 62 as the death in Turkey rose to 38.
Syria’s assistance health minister said 42 people were killed in government-held areas of the country in today’s earthquake. At least 20 other people were killed in the rebel-held northwest raising the death toll in war-torn Syria to 62.
Assistant Health Minister Ahmad Dumeira told state news agency that 200 people were also injured by the quake in the provinces of Aleppo, Hama and Latakia.
The government of Malatya province in Turkey meanwhile reported 23 deaths there, bringing overall death toll in Turkey 38.
Strong 7.9 magnitude earthquake hits Turkey
04:44 , Stuti Mishra
A strong 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey early today, toppling buildings, leaving hundreds injured wth death toll expected to rise.
The quake struck 23km east of Nurdagi, Gaziantep province at a depth of 24.1km, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. Nurdagi is located along the Turkey-Syria border.
The quake was felt in several countries across the region, including Syria and Lebanon and as far as Cairo.
Video shared on social media show panicked residents pouring outside in a cold winter night on the darkened streets amid the chaos. Rescue workers can be seen conducting search-and-rescue operations by flashlight.
04:24 , Stuti Mishra
Good morning! Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the earthquake that hit Turkey early on Monday. We’ll be bringing you all the latest developments as they unfold.
