Powerful Earthquakes in Southern Turkey: Revenge of Concrete
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Kahramanmaras city, Turkey, in the early hours of Monday, February 6 2023, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor just after midday. The quakes caused widespread destruction in southern Turkey and northern Syria and were felt in nearby countries.
More than 50 thousand people died and more than 100 thousand people were injured in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on February 6, 2023. According to Turkish Statistical Institute data, 14 million people were affected and 216 thousand 347 victims were evacuated from the region to other provinces. According to the UN, the cost of the earthquakes that caused destruction in 11 cities in southeastern Turkey is more than 100 billion.
In the earthquake zone, 7 million 85 thousand 969 building registration certificates were issued throughout Turkey under the “Zoning Reconciliation” issued before the Presidential elections in 2018. With the “Zoning Reconciliation”, it was revealed that a total of 294 thousand illegal buildings were forgiven in 10 provinces hit by the earthquake.
According to the data of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, out of 387.346 buildings in the earthquake zone, the number of collapsed, heavily damaged or urgently demolished buildings is 50 thousand 576.
Women react at the site of a collapsed building in the aftermath of a major earthquake in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, Turkey, 08 February 2023.
People search for victims at the site of a collapsed building in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, southeastern Turkey, 07 February 2023.
Emergency personnel and locals find the remains of a victim at the site of a collapsed building in the aftermath of a major earthquake in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, Turkey, 08 February 2023.
People stand at a site of collapsed buildings after a powerful earthquake, in Hatay, Turkey, 15 February 2023.
People search for victims at the site of a collapsed building in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, southeastern Turkey, 07 February 2023.
Relatives of missing people wait in front of a collapsed building as emergency personnel search for them in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, southeastern Turkey, 07 February 2023.
Emergency personnel search for victims at the site of a collapsed building in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, southeastern Turkey, 07 February 2023.
A rescue team member walks past a damaged car in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, southeastern Turkey, 07 February 2023.
Emergency personnel and locals search for victims at the site of a collapsed building in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, southeastern Turkey, 07 February 2023.
Emergency personnel work at the site of collapsed buildings following a powerful earthquake in Nurdagi district of Gaziantep, southeastern Turkey, 13 February 2023.
People carry a wounded man who was rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, southeastern Turkey, 07 February 2023.
People carry a wounded man who was rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, southeastern Turkey, 07 February 2023.
Dead bodies of victims are seen in the state hospital aftermath of a powerful earthquake in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, southeastern Turkey, 07 February 2023.
Dead bodies of victims are seen in the state hospital aftermath of a powerful earthquake in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, southeastern Turkey, 07 February 2023.
Emergency personnel carry Syrian Seher Ghanam (C) who was rescued from the site of a collapsed building shortly after her father Faez Ghanam was also rescued some 209 hours after a major earthquake in Hatay, southeastern Turkey, 14 February 2023.
Emergency personnel carry Syrian Seher Ghanam (C) who was rescued from the site of a collapsed building shortly after her father Faez Ghanam was also rescued some 209 hours after a major earthquake in Hatay, southeastern Turkey, 14 February 2023.
Emergency personnel and local people work at the site of collapsed buildings following a powerful earthquake in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, 12 February 2023. More than 30,000 people have died and thousands more were injured after two major earthquakes struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on 06 February. Authorities fear the death toll will keep climbing as rescuers look for survivors across the regions.
Emergency personnel and local people work at the site of collapsed buildings following a powerful earthquake in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, 12 February 2023. More than 30,000 people have died and thousands more were injured after two major earthquakes struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on 06 February. Authorities fear the death toll will keep climbing as rescuers look for survivors across the regions.
