February 6, 2023, 04:17 UTC [20:17 PST] 一 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Sequence Part 1

A devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake, on the Richter scale, hit southern Turkey and the northern border of Syria! This recorded quake is the strongest that the area has experienced in a century killing more than 4,000 people.

This quake was caused by a shallow strike-slip fault–a fault on which the two blocks slide past one another. An aftershock of a magnitude 6.7 followed 11 minutes after the quake.

February 6, 2023, Nine Hours Later 一 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Sequence Part 2

More destruction overshadowed Turkey once again, just nine hours after the initial quake. Adisastrous aftershock quickly reached an M7.5, on the Richter Scale, destroying more buildings and devastating the area even more.

Small magnitude quakes between M3 to M4 will continue to be felt by people near the epicenter. Aftershock episodes can continue for years to decades later, even after people no longer feel these quakes.

February 9, 2023 一 Monday’s devastating earthquake had risen the death toll to over 15,000

The Turkish state media reported over 12,391 and an additional 62,914 people were reported injured. More than 13 million people have been impacted by the quakes.

At least 1,262 people have been killed and 2,285 injured in government-controlled areas of Syria, according to state media. Rescue workers in rebel-held Northwestern Syria recorded more than 1,780 dead and more than 2,700 wounded.

February 10, 2023 一 Mother Nature or Faulty Construction and Lax Regulations?

For years, Turkey has failed to enforce modern building codes while allowing a property boom in the country’s earthquake-prone areas.

Eyup Muhcu, President of the Turkish Chamber of Architecture stated that many buildings in the affected areas were built with poor and inferior materials and bad design, and the buildings often do not meet government standards.

The lax enforcement that geologists and engineering experts have long warned is now under renewed scrutiny in the public eye after this week’s devastating earthquakes that collapsed thousands of buildings and killed more than 23,000 people in Turkey and Syria.

February 12, 2023, 14:27 UTC [06:27 PST] 一 Death toll passes 33,000

The death toll from the M7.8 and M7.5 earthquakes that struck Southeastern Turkey and Northern Syria had risen to 33,185 and is expected to rise as teams continue to search for more bodies.

Amidst the destruction, Turkish Justice Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag, has stated that 131 people are under investigation for their alleged responsibility in the faulty construction of the collapsed buildings that could not withstand the quakes.

February 14, 2023, 18:16 UTC [10:16 PST] 一 Death toll reaches 41,000

According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, 35,418 people have died in Turkey.

In Syria, the death toll now stands at 5,801 in both government- and rebel-held areas of Northwestern Syria, according to combined figures from the Syrian Ministry of Health and the Syrian Civil Defense and Medical Group.

February 19, 2023, 22:05 UTC [14:05  PST] 一 Death toll reaches 46,000

The World Health Organization estimates that about 26 million people in Turkey and Syria need humanitarian assistance. 

February 21, 2023, 11:44 UTC [03:44 PST] 一 M6.3 aftershock hit the Turkey-Syria border

Monday, February 20, two weeks after the devastating M7.8 and M7.5 earthquakes. Reports find that 6 people were killed and 294 injured in Turkey, and 2 people killed and 190 people were injured in Syria after this incident.

February 28, 2023, 20:02 UTC [12:02 PST] 一 Death toll reaches 50,000

Three weeks later, more than 50,000 dead have been reported with many more injured, tens of thousands without homes, and hundreds of thousands missing.

For the entire month of February, much of the area in Southern Turkey and the North border of Syria has been turned into fields of rubble. Even rebel-held areas in Northern Syria were not exempted from the destruction of Mother Earth.

More than a month since the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, news of what’s happening overseas has dwindled drastically. Ayliz Urkmez, a Santa Clarita Valley resident, shares the sentiment, “Like many of the news I believe, when a big event occurs somewhere, it becomes big news meaning like everyone talks about it. Then everything goes back to “normal”… I do think that life goes on but we should not forget or… lose track of it.”

Aftershocks ranging from M3-M4 will still be prominent around the epicenter for days, weeks, months, or even years to come. Humanitarian aid sent by other countries and organizations are actively supporting the millions of people in Turkey and Syria.

How to Help!

Monetary assistance is, preferred in high stake emergencies, asked to help with supporting the population for the upcoming winter season, medical needs, and with the search and rescue teams.

Save the Children “Children’s Emergency Funds” – Donations help their team with the distribution of tents, hygiene kits, clothing, heaters, blankets, and other essential items.

Project HOPE – Project HOPE aims to steer your donations to distribute materials needed as freezing temperatures cast over the country, and when more people in Turkey need medical and humanitarian assistance.

Syrian American Medical Society Foundation – The SAMS Foundation collects your donations to provide relief efforts in Syria that contribute to life-saving responses and support to the survivors.

Whether it’s sending monetary donations, rallying support to send materials, or spreading awareness about it on social media, every little thing creates a large impact for those in dire need. Keep the news of Turkey and Syria alive, they are still in need of help and support, especially as freezing weather, aftershocks, sickness, etc., threaten the well-being of millions of lives.

“I want everyone to know that there are still a lot of things going on right now. Posting anything hateful and foul about the people affected by the earthquake and the effects [of it] is horrible. People need support. Simply be respectful.” Urkmez shared with The Grizzly Gazette.