Disastrous 7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Turkey, Killing Thousands

At 4:17 a.m. on Monday, February 6th, 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit southern Turkey (now recognized as Türkiye by the U.S. State Department as of January 2023) in the middle of a winter storm, damaging or destroying more than 4,000 buildings and killing several thousand people in Turkey and its neighbor, Syria. The aftershocks that followed have continued to destroy property and lives.

The quake struck 14.2 miles east of Nurdagi, located in the Gaziantep province. Its depth was measured at 14.9 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It has been followed up by multiple strong aftershocks, further complicating the rescue efforts. The largest of the aftershocks was a massive earthquake in and of itself, measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale.

The death toll currently reads more than 7,000, and the number is expected to rise as rescue crews sift through the rubble in search of survivors and remains. Massive numbers of people were killed not only in Turkey but also in government-held and rebel-held parts of war-torn Syria. The World Health Organization has warned that the combined death toll could reach 20,000 people.

Among those who have survived, several thousand are wounded, and many of those who are okay are unable to find shelter from the winter weather. Those who have vehicles are sheltering in their cars. Even those who still have homes still standing to go back to are afraid to enter their buildings again.

The race is on, as the lives of the people trapped under the rubble are threatened not only by injuries and the typical dangers of being trapped but also by the inclement weather. It’s likely that the civil war in Syria may also be complicating the success of relief efforts.

Turkey is a particularly earthquake-prone area of the world, but experts say this is the first time an earthquake of this magnitude has hit the country since 1991. It may in fact prove to be the largest disaster in the nation in almost 100 years.

Turkey has declared a three-month state of emergency and has appealed for international assistance, including donations of blood for their wounded. More than 13,000 people have been reported as injured at this time, including at least 11,000 from Turkey and 2,000 from Syria. Hospitals are struggling to keep up with these staggering numbers.

Several important archeological sites in Turkey and Syria are also reported to have been damaged by the earthquakes, including the Aleppo Citadel, the city of Aleppo, the Al-Marqab Castle, and historical buildings and mosques in the Hama Governorate. Additionally, the earthquakes are expected to take a huge toll on the countries’ economies.

Turkey has declared a week of mourning in the wake of this disaster. Their flags will fly at half-mast until sunset on Sunday, February 12th.

In the wake of this horrifying disaster, the people of Syria and Turkey desperately need our help. GreaterGood is busily raising funds to help our sister company, Greater Good Charities, and their partners as they work to determine what needs the people have and how we can best meet them.

Greater Good Charities, a global nonprofit organization, is deploying an assessment team and working with partners on the ground to identify immediate needs and expedite relief to survivors. As soon as they’ve finished this task, all donations will be used to bring much-needed supplies to the displaced people of Turkey and Syria to help them stay warm, fed, and alive.

We need your help! Every donation counts. Your gift will go directly to people in need in the areas hardest hit by the earthquakes.

Click the button below to learn more and to donate to the displaced and injured people of Turkey and Syria!

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