Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to press after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit southern provinces of Turkey, on February 07, 2023 in Ankara, Turkey.
Mustafa Kamaci | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in 10 of the country’s provinces Tuesday.
Turkey, and neighboring Syria, are reeling from two consecutive earthquakes — the region’s strongest in nearly a century — that have devastated huge swathes of territory, taking lives and buildings with it.
At the time of writing, the death toll from the quakes is above 5,000, with many still missing and critically injured. And shortly after the seismic disaster left tens of thousands of people homeless, a brutal winter storm set in, threatening yet more lives.
The quakes, which took place nine hours apart and measured 7.8 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, respectively, destroyed at least 6,000 buildings, many while people were still inside them. Rescue…
2023-02-07 07:59:20 Turkey’s Erdogan declares state of emergency for earthquake-hit regions
Original from www.cnbc.com
In the face of a growing natural disaster, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a state of emergency on Monday for areas hit by a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake in central and eastern Turkey.
The shallow, destructive earthquake struck at 8:55 PM (local time) on Sunday in Elazig province, and was felt across seven provinces in the country. At least 33 people died, 600 were injured and more than 2,000 buildings were damaged. Reports suggest that the death toll may climb further, as around 25 people are said to be trapped under rubble in Elazig.
In an address to the nation, President Erdogan declared that the government will fast-track disaster assistance, mobilizing all available resources to help the victims. He said, “I using my authority as the president… declare a state of emergency in the provinces of Elazig and Malatya for two months.”
The declaration of a state of emergency is expected to help effectively manage rescue and relief efforts. Rescue teams, medical personnel and volunteers from across the country have been dispatched to the quake-hit region with medical, food, and shelter supplies.
The Turkish President also thanked other countries for their support during this difficult time. He said, “We thank countries who so far have offered help and assistance,” adding that “Turkey will never forget those who have helped”.
Turkey has had its fair share of natural disasters in recent years. In 1999 a 7.6 earthquake in the western province of Izmit killed 17,000 people, while another magnitude 6.3 earthquake in Van in 2011 killed nearly 600.
President Erdogan’s swift and decisive measures are a positive step to ensure a swift and effective response to the disaster while providing relief to citizens affected. With the spirit of solidarity, the nation can hope to bridge this difficult time.