More than 5,000 people have now been confirmed dead across Turkey and Syria, after two earthquakes devastated parts of the two nations on Monday.
Turkey’s death toll rose to at least 3,419, its vice president Fuat Oktay said on Tuesday.
A further 20,534 have been wounded. In Syria, the death toll has risen to 1,602.
Rescuers have been racing against time to save people trapped under rubble after nearly 6,000 buildings collapsed.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Monday the UK was sending a team of 76 search and rescue specialists, equipment and rescue dogs to Turkey “within the critical 72 hours”.
The British Red Cross has released £25,000 from its disaster fund to support the rescue attempts. It has also announced that it will launch a full emergency appeal.
Meanwhile, survivors have reported that freezing conditions are hampering their efforts to keep children and the elderly warm. This is due to aftershocks preventing them from seeking refuge inside buildings.
As world leaders and global charities publicly pledge to send aid, here is everything we know about the earthquakes, their causes and how you can help those in need.
Where in Turkey was the earthquake?
The huge earthquake struck south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, early on Monday morning.
The 7.8-magnitude quake, which hit near the town of Gaziantep, was closely followed by numerous aftershocks — including one quake which was almost as large as the first.
A second quake’s magnitude was 7.5. It took place in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras at 1.24pm local time.
The quake was felt across Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus and Israel — and as far away as Greenland.
The aftershocks are causing further devastation, with thousands of buildings collapsing and people being injured.
The UK is sending immediate support to Türkiye including a team of 76 search & rescue specialists, equipment and rescue dogs.
— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) February 6, 2023
In Syria, the UK-funded White Helmets have mobilised their resources to respond.
We stand ready to provide further support as needed.
How many earthquakes has Turkey had?
In addition to the two powerful earthquakes on Monday, Sky News reported on Tuesday that powerful tremors had hit Turkey through the night.
A 5.4-magnitude tremor struck the eastern side of the country at 7.10am (UK time) this morning, the US Geological Study said. Only half an hour earlier, a 4.5-magnitude aftershock was recorded.
There have been at least 14 large quakes in the region since midnight, Sky News said.
Stephen Hicks, a seismologist at University College London, said the original earthquake was “by far the largest quake since instrumental records began” around the 1900s.
Prof Joanna Faure Walker, head of the Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction at University College London, told the BBC: “Of the deadliest earthquakes in any given year, only two in the last 10 years have been of equivalent magnitude, and four in the previous 10 years.”
As a result of the quakes, schools and airports across 10 cities and provinces have been fully or partially shut down.
Turkey is one of the world’s most active earthquake zones, as it sits on the Anatolian tectonic plate which is between the Eurasian, Arabian, and African plates.
My thoughts are with the people of Türkiye and Syria this morning, particularly with those first responders working so valiantly to save those trapped by the earthquake.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) February 6, 2023
The UK stands ready to help in whatever way we can.
What was the highest magnitude earthquake?
The highest-recorded earthquake to date happened in Chile on May 22, 1960.
It had a magnitude of 9.5 and is widely referred to as the “Great Chilean Earthquake”.
The second-greatest quake happened in the US state of Alaska on March 28, 1964, with a magnitude of 9.2.
And the third was off the coast of Northern Sumatra. The 9.1-magnitude quake took place on December 26, 2004.
What causes earthquakes?
Earthquakes are caused by the Earth’s plates moving. There are separate parts that are nestled together to create the planet’s crust.
The plates try to move on a regular basis, but, often, the friction between the two plates prevents it.
Over time, if and when enough pressure builds between plates, they make a jerky movement which travels up to the surface level. This causes the natural disaster we call an earthquake.
In this instance, the earthquake was caused by the Arabian plate moving northwards and grinding against the Anatolian plate.
This isn’t the first time these two plates’ friction has caused devastation. On August 13, 1822, an earthquake of 7.4 magnitude was recorded.
The 19th-century quake had damaged the towns in the region, with its impactful aftershocks lasting for nearly a year.
I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by the earthquake in Turkiye and Syria. I have directed my team to continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with Turkiye and provide any and all needed assistance.
— President Biden (@POTUS) February 6, 2023
Where can I donate to support Turkey and Syria?
While the weather is already reported to be at freezing levels, heavy snowfall is expected in the coming hours.
Those in the region have been asking for tents, thermal clothes, heaters, ready-to-eat meals, medical equipment, and more.
Several reputable charities have already started their fundraising efforts to help those in need.
Here is a list of organisations you can donate to:
- You can donate to the British Red Cross here.
- You can donate to Islamic Relief here.
- You can donate to Action Aid here.
- You can donate to Oxfam here.
