Turkey's Deadliest Earthquake

On February 6, 2023, a powerful series of earthquakes struck southern Türkiye, causing one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country’s modern history. The first earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.7, occurred in the early hours of the morning, followed by a second major quake measuring 7.6 later the same day. The earthquakes affected a wide area, including provinces such as Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Gaziantep, Adıyaman, and Malatya.

Thousands of buildings collapsed or were severely damaged as a result of the intense shaking. Residential areas, hospitals, schools, and critical infrastructure were heavily impacted, leaving millions of people without shelter, electricity, or access to clean water. Winter conditions further complicated rescue and relief efforts, as temperatures dropped below freezing in many regions.

Search and rescue teams, supported by international aid groups, worked tirelessly in the aftermath to locate survivors trapped beneath the rubble. Despite challenging conditions, stories of survival emerged days after the earthquakes, highlighting both the resilience of affected communities and the urgency of rapid emergency response in large-scale disasters.

The earthquakes resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, creating a humanitarian crisis that extended beyond national borders. Governments, humanitarian organizations, and volunteers mobilized to provide emergency shelter, medical assistance, and long-term recovery support to the affected population.