February 7, 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake news

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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:

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. 

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. 

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.”

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.

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Tuesday that there are 941 buildings totally collapsed in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the region on Monday.

Soylu said this number does not include the damaged buildings but only the buildings that totally collapsed in the city.