Death toll increased in earthquakes

It has been 9 days since the earthquake that hit 10 provinces based in Kahramanmaraş. The number of casualties and injuries in the earthquake is increasing.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) reported that as of 10:00 a.m., 31,643 people lost their lives in Kahramanmaraş-based earthquakes.

158 thousand 165 disaster victims were evacuated from the provinces affected by the earthquake.

The statement from AFAD is as follows:

"On 06.02.2023, two earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.7 and a magnitude of 7.6 centered in Elbistan occurred in Kahramanmaraş province. Following the earthquakes, 2,724 aftershocks occurred.

According to the latest information received from SAKOM, a total of 31,643 of our citizens lost their lives in the provinces of Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Adana, Adıyaman, Osmaniye, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya and Elazığ. 158,165 disaster victims were evacuated from the region to other provinces.

A total of 35,495 search and rescue personnel including AFAD, PAK, JAK, JÖAK, DİSAK, Coast Guard, DAK, Güven, Fire Department, Tahlisiye, MEB, NGOs and international search and rescue personnel are working in the region. As a result of negotiations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the number of search and rescue personnel from other countries is 9,793.

In addition, the total number of personnel working in the region is 238,459 together with the number of field personnel assigned from AFAD, Police, Gendarmerie, MSB, UMKE, Ambulance Teams, Volunteers, Local Security and Local Support Teams.

A total of 12,322 vehicles, mainly excavators, tractors, cranes, dozers, trucks, tractors, trailers, graders, vacuum exchangers, etc., were dispatched to the disaster area.

More than 40 Governors, 152 Civil Administration Chiefs, 19 AFAD senior managers and 68 provincial directors were assigned to the disaster areas. In addition, 13 ambassadors and 17 Foreign Ministry personnel have been deployed in the region to coordinate international aid.

An air bridge has been established to the region for the shipment of personnel and materials. A total of 4,097 sorties were carried out with 170 helicopters and 76 aircraft of the Air Force, Land Forces, Navy, Coast Guard Command, Gendarmerie General Command, General Directorate of Security, Ministry of Health and General Directorate of Forestry.

A total of 26 ships, 24 by the Naval Forces Command and 2 by the Coast Guard Command, were assigned to the region for the purpose of personnel, material shipment and evacuation.