According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Turkey (AFAD), the quake struck at 4:17 am (0117 GMT) and was centered in the Pazarcik district of Kahramanmaras province.
Casualties and Search & Rescue Efforts
In Turkey, Vice President Fuat Oktay stated that 2,379 people were killed and 14,483 others were injured in 10 provinces due to the quake. He also said that 7,840 people had been rescued from the rubble, with 11,022 search and rescue teams working in the field. Over 25,000 people, including Turkish soldiers, are carrying out search and rescue operations in the affected regions.
Presidential Declaration of National Mourning
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared seven days of national mourning in response to the earthquakes. The quakes affected 10 cities with a population of approximately 13.5 million.
Aftershocks and Damage in Syria
In Syria, regime and rescue officials reported that at least 1,444 people were killed, and over 2,400 others were wounded. The earthquake was followed by 185 aftershocks, including two magnitude 6.6 and 6.5 quakes that struck southeastern Gaziantep province, with more expected to come.
