Turkish authorities on Wednesday raised to more than 45,000 the death toll from the February 6 earthquakes, which had their epicenter in the province of Kahramanmaras (south), near the Syrian border, where some 6,000 people have also died.
The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD), under the Ministry of the Interior, has indicated in a statement published on its website that so far 45,089 fatalities have been confirmed in the ten provinces affected by the earthquakes, which had a magnitude of 7.7 and 7.6 on the open Richter scale.
It has also indicated that around two million people have been evacuated from the affected provinces, where some 6,400 members of the search and rescue teams are still working. The authorities have established an air bridge to deliver materials and aid to the area.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that authorities «have started the work for the necessary reconstruction of the cities.» «In a few months we will start building 309,000 houses. We are asking to be given one year for this,» he said.
«We have the determination and power to make up for all the destruction. We have not harmed anyone so far,» he said, before stressing that he «is aware of the magnitude of the pain experienced by the victims,» Turkish daily ‘Hurriyet’ has reported.
«It is impossible not to be moved by the acuity and fortitude shown by our nation. During our visits to provinces and districts, we see that our nation has faced this ordeal with dignity,» he said from Kahramanmaras.
The February 6 earthquakes, which have been followed by more than 11,000 aftershocks, according to AFAD data, have also caused nearly 6,000 fatalities in Syria, although the number of victims in the Arab country is much more difficult to estimate, especially in the northwest, in the hands of rebel groups.
