Last Minute... AFAD announced the latest situation: The loss of life rose to 38 thousand 44. Turkey

Last minute development... The number of casualties is increasing in the two earthquakes that occurred in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 9 hours apart. AFAD announced that 38 thousand 44 people lost their lives in Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes.
17 February 2023

AFAD announced that 38 thousand 44 people lost their lives in earthquakes that caused destruction in Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Adana, Adıyaman, Osmaniye, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya and Elazığ provinces, the epicenter of which is Kahramanmaraş.

The statement made by the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) as of 23.00 is as follows:

"On 06.02.2023, two earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.7 in the center of Kahramanmaraş province Pazarcık and a magnitude of 7.6 in the center of Elbistan occurred. After the earthquakes, 4,734 aftershocks occurred.

According to the latest information received, a total of 38,044 citizens lost their lives in the provinces of Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Adana, Adıyaman, Osmaniye, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya and Elazığ.

A total of 29,160 search and rescue personnel, consisting of AFAD, PAK, JAK, JÖAK, DİSAK, Coast Guard, DAK, Güven, Fire Brigade, Rescue, MEB, NGOs and international search and rescue personnel, are working in the region. As a result of the negotiations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the number of search and rescue personnel coming from other countries and continuing their duties is 11,488.

In addition, the total number of personnel working in the region is 264.389, together with the number of field personnel assigned in the field, including AFAD, Police, Gendarmerie, MSB, UMKE, Ambulance Teams, Local Security, Local Support Teams and 9,908 volunteers.

Excavators, tractors, cranes, dozers, trucks, water trucks, trailers, graders, vacuum trucks, etc. A total of 12,600 vehicles, including construction equipment, were shipped.

38 Governors, 160 Local Administrative Officers, 19 AFAD top managers and 68 provincial directors were assigned to disaster areas. In addition, 12 ambassadors and 16 Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel were assigned to the region for the coordination of international aid.

An air bridge has been established to transport personnel and materials to the region. 121 helicopters and 78 aircraft operating under the Air Force, Land Forces, Naval Forces, Coast Guard Command, Gendarmerie General Command, General Directorate of Security, Ministry of Health and General Directorate of Forestry, and a total of 7,940 sorties have been made to date.

A total of 26 ships, 24 by the Naval Forces Command and 2 by the Coast Guard Command, were assigned to the region for the purpose of personnel, material shipment and evacuation.

DISASTER SHELTER GROUP
386,874 tents have been shipped by ministries, relevant institutions and organizations, and international countries and organizations, of which 172.265 have been established. 3,282,725 blankets were shipped to the region. Temporary accommodation services and 79,720 accommodation materials were provided to 78,500 people by the Presidency of Religious Affairs.

DISASTER NUTRITION GROUP
A total of 354 mobile kitchens, 86 catering vehicles, 38 mobile ovens and 330 service vehicles were sent to the region from the Red Crescent, AFAD, MSB, Gendarmerie and Non-Governmental Organizations (IHH, Hayrat, Beşir, TDV, Initiative Associations). 2,179,630 nutrition services were provided by the Presidency of Religious Affairs.

In the disaster area, 33,908,749 hot meals, 7,499,136 soups, 20,722,136 water, 37,072,121 bread, 14.477,997 refreshments, 2,384,785 beverages were distributed.

DISASTER PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT GROUP
4 Mobile Social Service centers were sent to the provinces of Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Osmaniye and Malatya. The number of personnel transferred to the region was 2,502, 2,722 personnel and 1,154 vehicles were dispatched outside the earthquake zone. Psychosocial support was provided to a total of 498,225 people, 382,565 in the earthquake zone and 115,660 outside the earthquake zone. Bulent