Search And Rescue Phase Completed, Turkey Records 44,370 People Dead Due To Earthquake

Heavy equipment is cleaning up the rubble of buildings caused by the earthquake in Turkey. (Wikimedia Commons/European Commission/Barbaros Kayan)

JAKARTA - At least 44,374 people have been killed in two powerful earthquakes that shook southeastern Turkey on February 6, an official from the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said on Sunday.

Yunus Sezer, head of AFAD, said search and rescue work had been completed in nearly 21,000 buildings, adding, "We are now fully focused on clearing the rubble."

Sezer further continued, at least 9,900 aftershocks have been recorded since the two major earthquakes.

"To date, more than 230,000 personnel are currently working on the ground," he added.

He explained that condolences poured in from around the world expressing solidarity with Turkey, with many countries sending rescue and aid teams.

"(About) 1,180 personnel from the international search and rescue team are still trying to support humanitarian relief activities," said Sezer.

He added that around 116 helicopters and 78 airplanes had delivered humanitarian aid and tents to the region.

"We send more than 10,000 tents to these areas every day, and we send them to remote areas. We currently have 287 tent cities in the region," said Sezer.

Sezer continued, more than 1.5 million affected people were accommodated in tents, container shelters, and public guest houses in the disaster area, adding that 563,000 people had been evacuated outside the disaster area.

It is known that the devastating earthquake that rocked Turkey on February 6, centered in Kahramanmaraş Province, was felt in 10 other provinces, namely Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Hatay, Gaziantep, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Şanlıurfa.