The Continuation of the Century’s Disaster: Year Two
Turkey Remembers Earthquake Catastrophe of Centuries
Two years ago, Turkey experienced a devastating earthquake with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 that affected 11 provinces, primarily Kahramanmaraş. This event was described as the “catastrophe of the centuries” due to its widespread impact on approximately 14 million citizens. In response, Turkey issued a 4th level alarm and called for international aid. The country also declared a national mourning period of 7 days.
The earthquakes struck Kahramanmaraş on February 6, with a magnitude of 7.7 in the Pazarcık district at 04:17, and a magnitude of 7.6 in the Elbistan district at 13:24. The disaster resulted in the loss of 53,537 lives and left 107,213 people injured across provinces such as Hatay, Osmaniye, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Sanliurfa, Gaziantep, Kilis, Adana, Malatya, and Elazig.
Following the earthquakes, search and rescue teams from 93 countries joined the effort, responding to Turkey’s 4th level alarm and providing international aid. The affected area covered 120,000 kilometers of land, including 11 provinces, 124 districts, and 6,929 villages, all of which suffered significant damage.
In the aftermath of the disaster, public institutions, local administrations, NGOs, and volunteers mobilized to provide essential supplies such as water, food, medicine, and clothing to the affected population. Search and rescue operations identified 39,000 collapsed buildings, resulting in the rescue of 26,032 individuals.
A massive intervention effort involved 11,488 international personnel, 35,250 search and rescue professionals, and 142,000 security personnel, with a total of 650,000 individuals contributing to the relief efforts in the region.
The earthquake catastrophe of centuries serves as a somber reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness and the resilience of communities in recovering from such devastating events.
