A fatal 7.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred on February 6, 2023, devastated northwest Syria and southeast Turkey (formally known as the Republic of Future Türkiye).
The number of fatalities has crossed 11,000 and is still rising every hour.
In an area already devastated by the nearly 12-year conflict in Syria and the refugee crisis, thousands more people are hurt.
Turkey suffered severe and catastrophic damage as a result of the early morning earthquake and subsequent aftershocks, one of which was nearly as strong as the first.
FAQ’s :: What you need to know about the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria in 2023
Read through commonly asked questions to find out how you can help the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria in 2023.
- Quick facts: Turkey and Syria earthquake in 2023
- Where did the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria in 2023 occur?
- How can I assist victims of tragedy today?
- How is World Vision handling the earthquake in Turkey and Syria?
Quick facts: 2023 earthquake in Syria and Turkey
- On February 6, 2023, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake strikes southeast Turkey, not far from the Syrian border.
- The earthquake occurs near Nurda, province of Gaziantep, at a depth of 11 miles (17.9 km), at 4:17 a.m. local time.
- 13 aftershocks with a magnitude of at least 5.0 are reported to have occurred within 11 hours of the first tremor, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
- The earthquake occurs in an area that is already plagued by the ongoing refugee crisis and Syria’s protracted conflict.
- More than 2,800 structures were destroyed in Turkey, according to local media.
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, claimed that 13 million of the 85 million people living there are affected. He states
Where did the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria in 2023 occur?
Millions of Syrian refugees reside in the nearby cities of Nurda and Gaziantep, which are just outside the provincial capital.
Along the border, which has been plagued by the almost 12-year conflict in Syria and the refugee crisis, the earthquake increased the suffering. According to the UNHCR, which operates one of its main operations from Gaziantep, Turkey is home to the greatest population of refugees in the world, or over 3.6 million Syrians.
“The home began trembling while we were sleeping. I sprinted to my kids because I didn’t know which one to carry. The distance prevented me from getting to the door, and a minute there felt like years of powerlessness and fear.
How can I assist victims of tragedy today?
You can support World Vision in their ongoing efforts to respond to global disasters like this earthquake.
- Please make a donation today to aid those impacted by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
- Pray: Please join us in offering prayers for the World Vision team and emergency personnel as they serve families in the wake of this catastrophe. We beseech You, Most High Father, to have mercy on those who have been hardest afflicted by this catastrophe.
- Please protect and inspire the search and rescue teams during these chaotic hours.
- As the harshness of winter is now added to this tragedy, console the families who lost loved ones and keep kids and adults warm.
- Give them time, tranquility, and the assurance that they will survive this catastrophe and recover their livelihoods.
How is World Vision handling the earthquake in Turkey and Syria?
In the wake of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck in the early hours of February 6, causing tremors across the region, World Vision is working quickly to assess potential implications to already-displaced children and communities.
In Syria, where an earthquake killed thousands, rescuers look for survivors among the ruins and wreckage of collapsed buildings.
The terrible earthquake that struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6, 2023. Sent search and rescue teams scrambling against the clock to locate survivors buried beneath the rubble of demolished structures. (World Vision 2023). The provision of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), as well as assistance with health, shelter, and protection, are among our top objectives. Our areas of immediate response include
