On Monday, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit near the southeastern Turkish city of Gaziantep. The quake, which struck while many were sleeping, was felt as far as Cyprus, Egypt, and Lebanon. The earthquake was followed by dozens of aftershocks, including a powerful 7.6 earthquake that struck the Elbistan region in Turkey’s Kahramanmaras province. The death toll from the earthquakes and aftershocks was expected to rise significantly.
In response to the disaster, the Turkish government declared a level 4 state of emergency and called for international assistance, as well as the mobilization of all national forces. Rescuers worked tirelessly to search for survivors, using heavy equipment and their bare hands to peel back rubble. The rescue efforts were hampered by a winter blizzard that had covered major roads in ice and snow, and made three major airports in the area inoperable, complicating the delivery of vital aid.
Authorities warned people not to enter damaged buildings due to the risks. The interior minister, Suleyman Soylu, emphasized that their priority was to “bring out people trapped under ruined buildings and transfer them to hospitals.” Videos and images shared on social media showed the aftermath of the earthquake, with buildings reduced to piles of rubble in several cities in Turkey’s southeast. People could be seen gathered around destroyed buildings, looking for survivors, and taking shelter in their cars on the side of snow-covered roads.
In the rebel-held parts of Syria, the death toll was also rising. The area is packed with millions of people who have been displaced from other parts of the country by the war and many live in buildings that have already been damaged from past bombardments. A member of the rescue team described the situation as “catastrophic in every sense of the word,” and that the death toll was likely to increase dramatically as hundreds of families were still stuck under the rubble.
An emergency cabinet meeting was held by President Bashar al-Assad to assess the damage and plan further actions. State television showed footage of rescue teams searching for survivors in heavy rain and sleet, while health officials urged the public to help take the injured to hospitals. The first earthquake also shook residents in Lebanon out of their beds and caused buildings to vibrate for approximately 40 seconds.
Turkey is located in a highly seismically active region and has experienced devastating earthquakes in the past, including a powerful quake in 1999 that claimed the lives of 18,000 people in the northwest of the country. The impact of this latest disaster is likely to have a profound effect on Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections, currently set for May. Experts believe that this will be the most difficult election for President Erdogan throughout his political career, and an opportunity for the opposition in the country as well.
In conclusion, the earthquakes and aftershocks that struck Turkey and Syria were a devastating disaster that resulted in the loss of many lives and the displacement of many more. The rescue and recovery efforts were complicated by the winter weather, and the death toll was expected to rise significantly. The impact of the disaster is likely to have far-reaching effects, both in terms of the political and economic implications for the region. The international community must continue to provide support and aid to those affected by this tragedy, and work together to rebuild and recover from the aftermath of this natural disaster.
