Earthquake in North Kurdistan - Live Blog

The number of dead increased to 3,381, while the injured are at least 20,486.

The number of dead and injured continues to increase. At least 3,381 people have been confirmed dead and over 20,486 injured. It has been reported that the number of buildings collapsed may be 11,302. So far, 5,775 of them, however, were confirmed to be destroyed.

07:47

Solidarity call from Shengal

The Shengal Martyrs' Families Committee and the Autonomous Assembly called for solidarity with the Kurdish people who suffered after the earthquake in Rojava and Bakur Kurdistan.

The statement said: “Our people are going through difficult and painful days. As the people of Shengal, we offer our condolences to those who lost their lives in the earthquake and wish the injured a speedy recovery. We call on all Yazidi people to help our people who were damaged by the earthquake."

07:42,

HDP: Now is the time for solidarity!

The Peoples' Democratic Party Democratic Local Administrations Board also made a written statement regarding the earthquake that took place in Bakurê Kurdistan.

The statement said: "Our municipalities are trying to fulfill their responsibilities in cooperation with our Earthquake Crisis Coordination Center. We have put all the power and facilities of our local governments into use in solidarity with our people affected by the earthquake."

07:26

People in Amed spent the night on the street

In Amed, most people had to spend the night on the street or in their cars. While the search and rescue efforts continued in the wreckage of 7 buildings that were completely destroyed in the city, none of the needs of the people who were "advised" not to spend the night in their homes were met. While 37 areas of the city were designated as shelters, neither shelter nor food was delivered to those places.

11:25

Earthquake kills 84, injures over 750 in Amed

It is reported that Monday’s earthquakes have killed 84 people and injured at least 759 people in Amed (Diyarbakır).

The death toll is increasing after the earthquakes with epicentres in Maras and Antep. As the situation continues worsening, dozens of powerful aftershocks continue to jolt the region.

Search and rescue efforts continue in the wreckage of destroyed buildings in Amed, one of the Kurdish cities most affected by the earthquake.

Many people have been rescued from the wreckage of collapsed buildings in Kayapınar, Bağlar and Yenişehir districts.

The citizens, whose houses have been damaged, spent the night in Kosuyolu Park under freezing temperatures.

Citizens gathered in the park reacted to the state's incapacity to provide tents, blankets and food.

According to the latest data from the Crisis Desk, established by the Urban Protection and Solidarity Platform in Amed, 84 people have lost their lives and at least 759 people have been injured, 19 of them seriously.

The crisis desk in the city reported that 23 buildings have been destroyed and accommodation is provided in nearly 300 locations.

11:59

Shelter in Shehba offered for earthquake victims

Melek El Hisen, Co-Chair of Afrin and Shehba Cantons Council, called on those affected by the earthquake in Aleppo and other regions to come to Shehba for shelter. Hisen urged the Damascus government to lift the embargo on Shehba Canton.

12:16

Dead bodies kept in the hospital garden in Elbistan

Dead bodies are kept in the hospital garden in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras since the emergency department of Elbistan State Hospital became unusable from the earthquake. No other measure has yet been introduced.

There is a shortage of medicines and med kits in the Elbistan State Hospital.

While the people of Elbistan spend the night outside in the cold weather, despair is mounting because of those still trapped under the rubble.

Search and rescue teams in the district remain insufficient.

No state official has reached the villages yet. Locals whose houses were destroyed in the earthquake have taken shelter in intact houses. As the state has not provided any aid to the villages where there has been no electricity and water since yesterday, those living in other cities took action to provide aid to villages by their own means or through local associations.

Some associations in Istanbul have delivered aid to the regions affected by the earthquake.

Footage from Elbistan Staet Hospital shows the latest situation on the ground.


12:58

HDP - DBP delegation arrives in Pazarcık

Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Saliha Aydeniz, HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) deputies Sezai Temelli, Fatma Kurtulan, Mehmet Rüştü Tiryaki, Dilan Dirayet Taşdemir, Zeynel Özen, Mahmut Toğrul and Murat Sarısaç, as well as party executives, conducted investigations in the Pazarcık district of Maraş, the epicentre of the first earthquake.

DBP Co-Chair Saliha Aydeniz made the following statement after the investigations on site:

“There is no building left not destroyed or not damaged in Pazarcık. We know that there are still people under the rubble. There is not a single rescue effort in some places. People ask: "Where is the state?" No single rescue work has been witnessed in the last 36 hours. While there was a possibility to pull people alive from the wreckage from the first minute of the earthquake, this was not done. I would like to express very clearly that the state has remained under the rubble from this earthquake.

Government officials keep saying that they are at every point to provide help. They boast about the roads and residences they have built. These roads and residences have been destroyed everywhere. Citizens have rescued the people from the rubble by their own efforts and solidarity. This state, this government, is doing nothing here. As the HDP delegation, we will remain here and show more solidarity everywhere. Today, our delegations have visited other regions affected by the earthquake. Our provincial and district organizations are collecting aid. We will keep increasing solidarity.”

14:21

Turkey declares state of emergency in earthquake zone

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a three-month state of emergency (OHAL) in the country’s provinces hit by devastating earthquakes.

The state of emergency covers the following cities: Maraş, Adiyaman, Adana, Sanliurfa, Hatay, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Osmaniye, Malatya and Elazig.

The Turkish President stated that 3,549 people have lost their lives and 22,168 people have been injured.

The actual death toll and the number of the injured are believed to be much higher.