More Deaths as Turkey’s Hatay Province Hit by Earthquakes Again

The authorities said six people were killed and many more injured after Turkey’s southern province of Hatay was again hit by strong quakes, causing widespread panic and calls for more help for survivors.

The aftermath of a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that hit Hatay on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE/ERDEM SAHIN

Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, AFAD said in a statement on Tuesday that six people died after Hatay province was shaken by four strong earthquakes within the space of an hour on Monday evening.

“Two hundred and ninety-four citizens, 18 of whom were seriously injured, were treated by healthcare units in various hospitals in the surrounding area. Unfortunately, six of our citizens lost their lives,” the AFAD said.

The four earthquakes, registering 6.4, 5.8, 5.2 and 5.2 again on the Richter scale, came after even more powerful quakes on February 6 caused devastation in Turkey and neighbouring Syria.

Monday’s quakes sparked panic in Hatay and several buildings collapsed, but because many people have not been living in their homes since February 6, the death toll remained relatively low.

The AFAD added that search and rescue missions started immediately to save people trapped under the rubble.

However, local authorities asked for more government help so people do not have to return to their houses.

“Our citizens want tents. No one can let our citizens go home anymore,” Refik Eryilmaz, mayor of Samandag district in Hayat province, said in an TV interview.

“This issue is still not resolved. I want them [the government] to find a solution to the housing problem very urgently,” Eryilmaz added.

He said that there is still no electricity in the city and many buildings that were heavily damaged have now collapsed.

Turkey has been going through the worst earthquake disaster in its history, with over 41,000 people dead and more than 108,000 injured, while millions have lost their homes.

At least two million people have left the quake region for safer locations since February 6.

The earthquakes on Monday were felt in neighbouring countries including Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt.

The authorities also sounded the alarm for a potential tsunami on the Eastern Mediterranean shores.

Following the new series of earthquake, the World Health Organisation and the United Nations called for more help and international solidarity with Turkey and Syria, which has also lost more 5,000 people due to the earthquakes.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary general, said in his daily briefing that the aid for Turkey and Syria so far was not enough and urged countries to donate more money.

“Funding remains essential for the wider earthquake response,” Dujarric said.