The Turkish Government Emergency Situations Office known by its Turkish acronym AFAD released new figures after the devastating earthquake, showing a rising tally of casualties across the country. The reported death toll has grown to 1,762 people, reflecting the scale of the disaster and the ongoing efforts to locate survivors and provide aid to affected communities. The update underscores the human cost of the quake and the urgent need for medical, logistical, and humanitarian responses that can reach people where they are most in need.
Officials also confirmed that 12,068 individuals were affected by the shaking. In addition to human losses, a substantial portion of the built environment was severely damaged, with 5,606 buildings reported destroyed. The numbers highlight the immediate challenges facing rescue teams, local authorities, and aid agencies as they work to clear debris, assess structural safety, and restore essential services for residents who have lost homes or livelihoods in the disaster zone.
Former Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the southeast event as the most severe earthquake to strike the region since 1939, a benchmark that emphasizes the rarity and intensity of the seismic activity. The statement reflects outrage and resolve from national leadership, aiming to unify the response and mobilize resources that can expedite relief, shelter, and reconstruction efforts for communities rebuilding in the aftermath of the quake.
A seven day period of national mourning was announced in the wake of the catastrophe, with a formal period of remembrance extending until February 12. The gesture acknowledges the widespread grief that has touched countless families and communities across the country, and it serves as a national call to solidarity as rescue operations, recovery planning, and long term support arrangements are organized for those affected.
The earthquake struck in the early hours of February 6, registering at a magnitude of 7.7. The epicenter was located in the Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaraş province, a region already exposed to seismic risk. The tremor propagated strong ground shaking across multiple provinces, and reports indicate that people in Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Kayseri, Mersin, Trabzon, and Urfa felt the ground move with varying intensities. The widespread impact points to extensive damage not only in urban centers but also in surrounding towns and rural areas, challenging local authorities to coordinate rescue teams, medical teams, and shelter operations across a dispersed geography.
Beyond the Turkish border, tremors were also felt in neighboring Syria, Iraq, and Libya as the seismic energy radiated outward. The Syrian Ministry of Health reported a rising death toll within its borders, with the latest figures showing 1,411 fatalities linked to the event. The cross-border effects underscore the shared vulnerabilities in the region and the urgent need for regional coordination to deliver aid, medical support, and relief materials to affected populations that straddle national lines.