Two powerful earthquakes struck southern Turkey on Monday, leaving at least 20,665 people dead and 80,088 injured, according to the country’s disaster service on Saturday.
More than 13 million people were impacted by the magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes that struck 10 provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Sanliurfa. The earthquakes were centered in the Kahramanmaras province.
The powerful earthquakes that slammed Turkey in less than 10 hours were also felt in a number of other nations in the region, including Syria and Lebanon.
According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, more than 166,000 search and rescue workers are currently employed in the field (AFAD).
According to AFAD, about 92,700 individuals have been relocated from earthquake-affected areas so far.
Friday’s earthquakes in the southern provinces of Turkey, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are one of the worst tragedies the country has ever experienced.
Erdogan has so far traveled to Kahramanmaras, Hatay, Adana, Gaziantep, Osmaniye, Kilis, Adiyaman, and Malatya to observe the ongoing search, rescue, and relief efforts and to meet with earthquake victims.
A three-month state of emergency was adopted by the Turkish parliament on Thursday in order to expedite relief efforts.
In the wake of the tragedy, the nation is also observing seven days of national mourning.
Messages of sympathy and support for Turkey have flooded in from all around the world, and several nations have dispatched rescue crews and humanitarian relief.