Turkey declares 7-day national mourning after major quakes
President Erdoğan has declared 7-day national mourning after two major earthquakes struck southeastern Turkey nine hours apart, at magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 respectively. At least 3,432 people were killed and more than 21,000 people were injured due to quakes and at least 5,775 buildings collapsed as a result.
Duvar English
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Feb. 6 declared 7-day national mourning after two major earthquakes struck southeastern Turkey nine hours apart.
"Due to the earthquakes that took place in our country on February 6, 2023, a national mourning was declared for seven days. Our flag will be flown at half-mast until the sunset on Sunday, February 12, 2023, in all our country and foreign representations," Erdoğan said.
The initial earthquake at a magnitude of 7.7 struck southeastern province of Kahramanmaraş's Pazarcık district on Feb. 6 at 4:17 a.m. local time.
The second earthquake at a magnitude of 7.6 struck Kahramanmaraş's Elbistan district at 1.24 p.m. local time on the same day.
As of Feb. 7 evening, at least 5,434 people were killed and more than 31,000 people were injured due to quakes, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced.
Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) announced on late Feb. 6 that at least 5,775 buildings collapsed as a result.
As of Feb. 6, 7,840 people have been rescued from under the rubble, AFAD added.
Hundreds of aftershocks occurred after the devastating quakes, reaching up to the magnitude of 6.6.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said it was the country's largest disaster since 1939.
Turkey is among the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. More than 17,000 people were killed in 1999 when a 7.6-magnitude quake struck İzmit, a city southeast of Istanbul. In 2011, a quake in the eastern city of Van killed more than 500.