Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

Turkey earthquake death toll rises to 40,689

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Feb 2023 18:34
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The Turkish authorities announce that the death toll is still on the rise in light of the devastating earthquake that hit the country last week.

  • x
  • Taha Erdem, 17, right, his mother Zeliha Erdem, left, and father Ali Erdem stand next to the debris from a building where Tahan was trapped after the earthquake of February 6, in Adiyaman, Turkey, February 17, 2023 (AP Photo)
    Taha Erdem, 17, right, his mother Zeliha Erdem, left, and father Ali Erdem stand next to the debris from a building where Tahan was trapped after the earthquake of February 6, in Adiyaman, Turkey, February 17, 2023 (AP Photo)

The number of deaths that resulted from the earthquake that hit Turkey last week has continued rising to reach 40,689 on Sunday, the head of the disaster management authority, AFD, said.

"Unfortunately, the death toll keeps rising. It stands at 40,689," AFD chief Yunus Sezer told a news briefing.

Just on Saturday, the death toll was at 40,642, with nearly 220,000 people evacuated from the areas hit by the earthquake and around 4,323 aftershocks.

On February 6th, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and ripped through Syria, causing a humanitarian catastrophe in both countries.

The UN estimates that 8.8 million people have been affected by the earthquake and its aftershocks in Syria. More than 4.2 million people have been affected by the earthquake in Aleppo, while 3 million people have been affected in Idlib, the UN noted, adding that more than 7,400 buildings have been entirely or partially destroyed.

Related News

Tensions ease in Sweida as all detainees released amid mediation

Fierce clashes breakout in Syria's Sweida, leading to displacement

Moreover, Turkish Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum revealed Thursday that one-tenth of the housing in earthquake-ravaged regions of southern Turkey was beyond repair and must be demolished.

"We have inspected 577,689 buildings in the disaster areas, which corresponds to some 2.665 million apartments. Of those, 56,080 buildings collapsed or must be demolished or are severely damaged," Kurum said.

The minister stated during a visit to Malatya, one of the damaged cities, that the ministry is developing a reconstruction plan that would encompass 11 provinces.

Furthermore, Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Turkey reported that more than 250 construction contractors were arrested for interrogation about the causes of the rapid collapse of buildings as a result of the earthquake.

The news about the arrest of contractors and developers of buildings and housing complexes in Turkey did not cease during the past hours while the search and rescue teams continue their efforts in the ten affected provinces following the devastating earthquake.

One of the most prominent of these contractors, Mehmet Yasar Coskun, owner of the Renaissance Residence complex in the southern Hatay province, was arrested by the authorities while he was trying to leave the country for Montenegro, from Sabiha Gokcen Airport in Istanbul.

The campaigns carried out by the Turkish authorities against the contractors are continuing, while the data indicate that they will take an upward trend in the coming days, which was indicated by the words of the Turkish Vice President, Fuad Aktay, by saying, "131 people have been identified responsible for the destroyed buildings in 10 provinces."

  • Syria
  • Turkey
  • Turkey-Syria Earthquake
  • Syria earthquake
  • Ankara

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS