February 7, 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake news

By Tara Subramaniam, Sana Noor Haq, Christian Edwards, Ed Upright, Aditi Sangal, Leinz Vales, Mike Hayes, Tori B. Powell and Elise Hammond, CNN

Updated 12:03 a.m. ET, February 8, 2023
53 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
11:38 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

At least 5,415 people across Turkey and Syria have died in the earthquake

From CNN's Hande Atay Alam and Hira Humayun

Women weep next to bodies lying on the back of a truck in Jandaris, Syria, on February 7.
Women weep next to bodies lying on the back of a truck in Jandaris, Syria, on February 7. (Mohammed Al-Rifai/AFP/Getty Images)

At least 5,415 people across Turkey and Syria have been killed in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the region on Monday.

In Turkey, the death toll is 3,703, according to Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD).

The number of those killed in Syria is more than 1,712: More than 900 people have been killed in opposition-held areas, according to Syria’s White Helmets, which is also known as Syria Civil Defense. In government-controlled areas, the death toll is 812, according to the state news agency SANA.

More than 26,035 people have been injured according to figures from the Turkish government, the White Helmets and Syrian state media.

11:35 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

There have been at least 125 aftershocks so far in Turkey, according to US agency

From CNN's Monica Garrett

At least 125 aftershocks measuring 4.0 or greater have occurred since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey on Monday morning local time, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The frequency and magnitude of the aftershocks are decreasing as is expected as we get further out in the time from the original earthquake. However, 5.0 to 6.0+ aftershocks are still possible and bring a risk of additional damage to structures that are compromised from the original earthquake. This brings a continued threat to rescue teams and survivors.

The aftershocks stretch for more than 400 kilometers (or about 250 miles) along the fault zone that ruptured in southern Turkey, oriented from southwest to northeast and stretching from the Mediterranean Sea off the northern coast of Syria up through the province of Malatya.

12:56 p.m. ET, February 7, 2023

Turkey's earthquake death toll surpasses 3,700

From CNN's Hande Atay Alam 

The death toll climbed to 3,703 in Turkey on Tuesday after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit 10 provinces on Monday, according to Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD).

In addition, there are now 22,286 injured people in Turkey, according to an AFAD statement.

Here are the other key details from the statement:

  • There are 59,971 search and rescue personnel working across 10 provinces.
  • An additional 3,251 international rescue personnel are located in these 10 provinces.
  • There was a lot of aid sent to the region, including 300,000 blankets, 54,511 family living tents and 747 M2 tents, 102,254 beds, 178,732 pillows and sheets, 4,602 kitchen set and 3,761 heaters.
11:25 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

IRC warns of "catastrophic humanitarian needs" in wake of earthquake

From CNN’s Mostafa Salem

Earthquake survivors sit sheltering in a tent the day after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's southeast in Hatay, Turkey, on February 7.
Earthquake survivors sit sheltering in a tent the day after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's southeast in Hatay, Turkey, on February 7. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is warning of “catastrophic humanitarian needs” in both Syria and Turkey and appealing for critical funds and lifesaving support for those affected “before it is too late," after the massive 7.8 magnitude quake that devastated the region, an IRC statement said Tuesday.

"With the response in its infancy the need for humanitarian aid is stark ... Even before the earthquake, humanitarian access was constrained in northwest Syria, with most aid coming in via one crossing-point with Türkiye. In this time of increased need it is critical that the levels of aid crossing also increase at pace too," IRC Syria Country Director Tanya Evans said in the statement.  

The IRC is also appealing to the international community to urgently increase funding to both Syria and Turkey to ensure that those affected will get the “lifesaving support they need before it is too late,” the IRC statement said.

The IRC is launching its earthquake response to both countries which will include provisions of cash, basic household items, dignity kits for women and girls and hygiene supplies.  

IRC will also support partners to provide essential health surfaces and safe spaces for women and children affected by this crisis.

10:58 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

Norwegian Red Cross in Syria says discussions underway to open aid corridor to rebel-held areas

From CNN's Katharina Krebs and Chris Liakos

There are discussions underway to open aid corridors from government-controlled parts of Syria to rebel-held areas following Monday’s powerful earthquake, Mohammad Hammoud, Syria country manager at the Norwegian Red Cross, told CNN on Tuesday.

Speaking to CNN’s Max Foster earlier today, Hammoud said he hopes that with the help and efforts from humanitarian communities, this would happen “in the coming days.”

“Currently, nothing has moved there, but there are discussions about moving aid and access to these areas,” he said.

When asked if the Syrian government in Damascus has been helpful to areas out of its control following the earthquake, Hammoud said: “They have stated that they are open to cross-line intervention, meaning from government-held areas to non-government-controlled areas.”

Earlier today, the head of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent – which describes itself as an independent and volunteer-based humanitarian organization – said that the organization is ready to “immediately” send aid convoys to rebel-held areas, including Idlib, through the United Nations. 

Hammoud added that the humanitarian situation is worsening. “We are in a race against time," he said, speaking from Damascus.

Describing rescue and search operations, Hammoud said that due to the lack of machinery most of the work on clearing rubble is done by hand while the cold weather conditions are not helping.

"The buildings are already weakened because of eleven years of war," Hammoud told CNN.

9:14 p.m. ET, February 7, 2023

How countries and companies are helping Turkey and Syria

From CNN staff

Earthquake survivors cry on the street in Hatay, Turkey on February 07.
Earthquake survivors cry on the street in Hatay, Turkey on February 07. (Ercin Erturk/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Countries, companies and non-profits are committing aid to the regions and people impacted by Monday's powerful earthquake. Here's what we know so far:

  • Egypt offered relief assistance to Syria in the wake of the deadly earthquake, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency spokesman on Tuesday. On Monday, the Egyptian foreign ministry tweeted Egypt is sending urgent relief aid to both countries.
  • Amazon has announced that it will help victims of the Turkey earthquake by donating food, medicine and equipment from its Istanbul warehouse. The retail giant, which has almost 2,000 employees in Turkey, said in a statement Monday that it had activated its "disaster relief capabilities" and was preparing to donate relief items, including blankets, tents, food, baby food and medicines. It expects the first shipments to depart from its fulfillment center in the country's capital Wednesday.
  • Indonesia also announced aid to Turkey, according to the reporting of Indonesian state media Antara, which also reported that Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin highlighted the urgency of dispatching humanitarian aid to Turkey to return the support granted by the country to Indonesia during their times of need over major natural disasters in the past. Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey Lalu Muhammad Iqbal was also reported saying that the first batch of humanitarian aid, in the form of a freight container full of foods, is currently on its way from Ankara to Gaziantep, one of the most-affected cities after the earthquake.
  • Ukraine will send 87 emergency staff workers to Turkey to assist with relief efforts, the Ukrainian cabinet minister announced on Tuesday.  The 87 rescuers are part of a search and rescue detachment of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
  • The self-ruled island of Taiwan increased its donation to Turkey from $200,000 to $2 million, its foreign ministry announced. Taiwan has also dispatched more than 130 rescue workers to assist.
10:50 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

Ukraine to send 87 emergency staff to Turkey, government says

From CNN's Kostan Nechyporenko, Maria Kostenko and Lauren Kent

Ukraine will send 87 emergency rescue staff to Turkey to assist with relief efforts, following the deadly earthquake, the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers announced on Tuesday. 

The 87 rescuers are part of a search and rescue detachment of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed condolences to the Turkish people on Tuesday in a call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

"I expressed condolences over the tragedy that befell the 🇹🇷  [Turkish] people due to the earthquakes. I informed of the decision to send a group of rescuers and equipment from 🇺🇦 [Ukraine] to 🇹🇷 [Turkey] to help in overcoming the aftermath. They will soon arrive in 🇹🇷 ]Turkey's] affected regions," said Zelensky in a tweet about his conversation with Erdogan.

Meanwhile, in Kyiv, people placed flowers and candles at the Turkish Embassy on Tuesday to pay respects to the victims of the earthquake. 

10:13 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

UNESCO says it is ready to provide assistance after earthquake damaged cultural sites

From CNN's Chris Liakos

Rescue teams search through the wreckage of collapsed buildings in Aleppo, Syria, on February 7.
Rescue teams search through the wreckage of collapsed buildings in Aleppo, Syria, on February 7. (Omar Sanadiki/AP)

UNESCO, the United Nation’s cultural organization, says it will provide assistance following cultural site damage in Turkey and Syria due to Monday’s powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake.

Following an initial survey of damages, UNESCO said that it is “particularly concerned about the situation in the ancient city of Aleppo, which is on the List of World Heritage in Danger.”

It added that significant damage has been noted in the citadel. 

“The western tower of the old city wall has collapsed and several buildings in the souks have been weakened,” UNESCO said.

In the Turkish city of Diyarbakır, the agency lamented the collapse of several buildings. The city is home to the World Heritage site Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape, which is "an important centre of the Roman, Sassanid, Byzantine, Islamic and Ottoman periods,” according to the UNESCO press release.

The organization says it is mobilizing experts to establish a precise inventory of the damage “with the aim of rapidly securing and stabilizing these sites.”

10:49 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

“We are in a race against time,” Syrian humanitarian worker says

From CNN's Christian Edwards

Mohammad Hammoud, Syria country manager at the Norwegian Red Cross, told "CNN This Morning" that rescue searches face an “urgent” scramble to find survivors and “provide them with life-saving aid.”

“The lack of machinery to move the collapsed buildings means that most of the work is done by hand. We are mainly reliant on manpower,” Hammoud said, speaking from Damascus.

Hammoud continued to explain the struggles that rescue operations face in Syria.

“We have a lack of fuel. Some of the ambulance services have stopped working. We are trying now to find a way to get fuel into the country,” he said.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent has called for “cross-line” support, to enable resources to be sent from government-controlled parts of the country, like Damascus, to the rebel-controlled northwestern region, which has been worst hit by the earthquake.

“Currently, nothing has moved there, but there are discussions about moving aid and access to these areas,” Hammoud said. He hopes resources can be sent “in the coming days.”

In the meantime, his organization has been providing aid to survivors, while rescue efforts continue.

“We have been trying to support with blankets, mattresses and some shelter equipment," he said. "Hundreds of thousands of people face the threat of becoming homeless in the coming months and days, because of the weaknesses of the buildings after 11 years of war.”