Catastrophic earthquakes in Turkey, Syria kill more than 17,000; deadliest quake series in 12 years
The death toll topped 17,000, making it the deadliest quake series since a 2011 earthquake in Japan triggered a tsunami and killed nearly 20,000 people.
Earthquakes in Turkey, Syria kill more than 11,000 people
The death toll had topped 11,000 as of Wednesday, making it the deadliest quake event since a 2011 earthquake in Japan that triggered a tsunami and killed nearly 20,000 people.
GAZIANTEP, Turkey – Search and rescue teams continue pulling victims from beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings in Turkey and Syria days after a series of catastrophic earthquakes jolted the region claiming more than 17,000 lives.
The Associated Press reported that search teams from more than two dozen countries have arrived in the devastated region and joined tens of thousands of local emergency workers who are desperately trying to reach those who need help.
Watch: Building collapses on live TV during aftershock in Turkey
People are seen running away from tall buildings during an aftershock in Turkey on Monday. A series of powerful earthquakes have killed thousands of people in Turkey and Syria with hundreds of people still trapped among the rubble.
Millions of people were jolted awake when the first earthquake, a magnitude 7.8, struck the region at 4:17 a.m. local time Monday (8:17 p.m. EST Sunday) and was almost immediately followed by a strong 6.7 magnitude aftershock, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Nine hours later, a powerful 7.5 magnitude aftershock rocked the region around 1:25 p.m. local time (5:24 a.m. EST) Monday.
Dozens of aftershocks have continued to shake the region, and the USGS expects those to continue for the foreseeable future.
This series of earthquakes is now the deadliest quake event since a 2011 earthquake in Japan triggered a tsunami and killed nearly 20,000 people.
Snow covers the rubble after the earthquake struck on Feb. 7, 2023, in Malatya, Turkey. An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 occurred in the Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaraş ruins on Feb. 6.
(Photo by Hakan Akgun / dia images / Getty Images)
The search for survivors and the beginning of the recovery process after the massive quakes have been impeded by freezing temperatures and snow.
This left survivors still trapped within the rubble susceptible to things like hypothermia and frostbite, putting them at risk of death while exposed to the elements.
Thousands of buildings reduced to piles of rubble
Turkish soldiers and search and rescue teams work in Hatay after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit multiple provinces of Turkey on Feb. 7, 2023. Early Monday morning, a strong 7.7 earthquake, centered in the Pazarcik district, jolted Kahramanmaras and strongly shook several provinces, including Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay and Kilis. Later, at 1:24 p.m., a 7.6 magnitude quake centered in Kahramanmaras' Elbistan district struck the region. Turkey declared seven days of national mourning after deadly earthquakes in southern provinces.
(Eren Bozkurt / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images)
The series of powerful earthquakes shook the ground so violently that thousands of buildings were reduced to piles of rubble, with people trapped beneath the concrete and metal.
In Turkey alone, the AP reported that more than 6,000 buildings were destroyed. That number includes damaged hospitals and at least one that completely collapsed in Iskenderun.
Teams have been looking through the collapsed buildings since the earthquakes struck and have pulled thousands of people from the rubble.
Unfortunately, thousands more are still waiting for help, and hope is fading that they will survive.
‘LEGITIMATELY TERRIFYING’: FUTURE QUAKE, TSUNAMI COULD BURY SEATTLE'S SHORES UNDER 20 FEET OF WATER
Videos and photos capture terrifying moments during the earthquake's aftermath
Watch: Cameras roll as apartment building collapses after major earthquake rocks Turkey
Video shows the moment an apartment building collapsed in Turkey after a series of catastrophic earthquakes rocked the region early Monday morning.
Videos and photos from the region show the devastation of the deadly earthquakes.
Cameras were rolling when an apartment building collapsed in Turkey, forcing people near the falling structure to run for their lives and not become trapped among the falling debris.
![ADIYAMAN, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 07: Search and rescue team of 86 people from Algeria arrive to conduct operation with their dogs after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit multiple provinces of Turkiye on February 07, 2023 in Adiyaman. Early Monday morning, a strong 7.7 earthquake, centered in the Pazarcik district, jolted Kahramanmaras and strongly shook several provinces, including Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis. Later, at 13.24 p.m. (1024GMT), a 7.6 magnitude quake centered in Kahramanmaras' Elbistan district struck the region. Turkiye declared 7 days of national mourning after deadly earthquakes in southern provinces. (Photo by Esra Hacioglu Karakaya/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)]()
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![GAZIANTEP, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 07: Search and rescue efforts continue after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit multiple provinces of Turkiye on February 07, 2023 in Islahiye district of Gaziantep. Early Monday morning, a strong 7.7 earthquake, centered in the Pazarcik district, jolted Kahramanmaras and strongly shook several provinces, including Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis. Later, at 13.24 p.m. (1024GMT), a 7.6 magnitude quake centered in Kahramanmaras' Elbistan district struck the region. Turkiye declared 7 days of national mourning after deadly earthquakes in southern provinces. (Photo by Samet Uzdilli/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)]()
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![HATAY, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 07: Turkish soldiers and search and rescue team work in Hatay after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit multiple provinces of Turkiye on February 07, 2023. Early Monday morning, a strong 7.7 earthquake, centered in the Pazarcik district, jolted Kahramanmaras and strongly shook several provinces, including Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis. Later, at 13.24 p.m. (1024GMT), a 7.6 magnitude quake centered in Kahramanmaras' Elbistan district struck the region. Turkiye declared 7 days of national mourning after deadly earthquakes in southern provinces. (Photo by Eren Bozkurt/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)]()
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![ADIYAMAN, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 07: Citizens mourn among rubbles after multiple earthquakes jolt Turkiye's Southeastern provinces, in Adiyaman, Turkiye on February 07, 2023. Early Monday morning, a strong 7.7 earthquake, centered in the Pazarcik district, jolted Kahramanmaras and strongly shook several provinces, including Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis. Later, at 13.24 p.m. (1024GMT), a 7.6 magnitude quake centered in Kahramanmaras' Elbistan district struck the region. (Photo by Esra Hacioglu Karakaya/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)]()
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![HATAY, TURKIYE- FEBRUARY 7: A fire burns in the Iskenderun port in Hatay after the earthquake in Maraş on February 7, 2023 in Hatay, Türkiye. (Photo by Eren Aka / dia images via Getty Images)]()
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![HATAY, TURKIYE- FEBRUARY 7: A fire burns in the Iskenderun port in Hatay after the earthquake in Maraş on February 7, 2023 in Hatay, Türkiye. (Photo by Eren Aka / dia images via Getty Images)]()
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![HATAY, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 07: Turkish soldiers and search and rescue team work in Hatay after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit multiple provinces of Turkiye on February 07, 2023. Early Monday morning, a strong 7.7 earthquake, centered in the Pazarcik district, jolted Kahramanmaras and strongly shook several provinces, including Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis. Later, at 13.24 p.m. (1024GMT), a 7.6 magnitude quake centered in Kahramanmaras' Elbistan district struck the region. Turkiye declared 7 days of national mourning after deadly earthquakes in southern provinces. (Photo by Eren Bozkurt/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)]()
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![HATAY, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 07: A child is rescued from the rubble of collapsed building in Hatay after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit multiple provinces of Turkiye on February 07, 2023. Early Monday morning, a strong 7.7 earthquake, centered in the Pazarcik district, jolted Kahramanmaras and strongly shook several provinces, including Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis. Later, at 13.24 p.m. (1024GMT), a 7.6 magnitude quake centered in Kahramanmaras' Elbistan district struck the region. Turkiye declared 7 days of national mourning after deadly earthquakes in southern provinces. (Photo by Eren Bozkurt/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)]()
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![OSMANIYE, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 06: Search and rescue operations continue at collapsed building after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hits Osmaniye, Turkiye on February 06, 2023. Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of Turkiye said the 7.7 magnitude quake struck at 4.17 a.m. (0117GMT) and was centered in the Pazarcik district and 7.6 magnitude quake struck in Elbistan district in the province of Kahramanmaras in the south of Turkiye. Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis provinces are heavily affected by the earthquakes. (Photo by Ozan Efeoglu/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)]()
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![DIYARBAKIR, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 06: A woman cries as personnel conduct search and rescue operations in Diyarbakir, Turkiye after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hits Turkiye's Kahramanmaras, on February 06, 2023. Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of Turkiye said the 7.7 magnitude quake struck at 4.17 a.m. (0117GMT) and was centered in the Pazarcik district and 7.6 magnitude quake struck in Elbistan district in the province of Kahramanmaras in the south of Turkiye. Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis provinces are heavily affected by the earthquakes. (Photo by Esra Hacioglu Karakaya/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)]()
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![KAHRAMANMARAS, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 06: Citizens wait near destroyed apartment building as search and rescue operations continue in Kahramanmaras after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit Turkiye's Kahramanmaras, on February 06, 2023. Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of Turkiye said the 7.7 magnitude quake struck at 4.17 a.m. (0117GMT) and was centered in the Pazarcik district and 7.6 magnitude quake struck in Elbistan district in the province of Kahramanmaras in the south of Turkiye. Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis provinces are heavily affected by the earthquakes. (Photo by Serhat Zafer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)]()
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![EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / Syrian rescue teams search for victims and survivors at the rubble a collapsed building in the city of Aleppo following a deadly earthquake on February 6, 2023. - The Syrian government urged the international community to come to its aid after more than 850 people died in the country following a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in neighbouring Turkey. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP) (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images)]()
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![KAHRAMANMARAS, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 06: An aerial view shows search and rescue operations continue at collapsed 15 storey building after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit Turkiye's Kahramanmaras, on February 06, 2023. Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of Turkiye said the 7.7 magnitude quake struck at 4.17 a.m. (0117GMT) and was centered in the Pazarcik district and 7.6 magnitude quake struck in Elbistan district in the province of Kahramanmaras in the south of Turkiye. Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis provinces are heavily affected by the earthquakes. (Photo by Halife Yalcinkaya/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)]()
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![HATAY, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 06: A view of a collapsed building in Hatay, Turkiye after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hits Turkiye's Hatay, on February 06, 2023. Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of Turkiye said the 7.7 magnitude quake struck at 4.17 a.m. (0117GMT) and was centered in the Pazarcik district and 7.6 magnitude quake struck in Elbistan district in the province of Kahramanmaras in the south of Turkiye. Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis provinces are heavily affected by the earthquakes. (Photo by Ercin Erturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)]()
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![OSMANIYE, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 06: Search and rescue operations continue at collapsed building after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hits Osmaniye, Turkiye on February 06, 2023. Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of Turkiye said the 7.7 magnitude quake struck at 4.17 a.m. (0117GMT) and was centered in the Pazarcik district and 7.6 magnitude quake struck in Elbistan district in the province of Kahramanmaras in the south of Turkiye. Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis provinces are heavily affected by the earthquakes. (Photo by Ozan Efeoglu/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)]()
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![SANLIURFA, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 06: Search and rescue operations continue after 7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Sanliurfa, Turkiye on February 06, 2023. Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of Turkiye said the 7.7 magnitude quake struck at 4.17 a.m. (0117GMT) and was centered in the Pazarcik district in Turkiyeâs southern province of Kahramanmaras. Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis provinces are heavily affected by the quake. (Photo by Rauf Maltas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)]()
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![TOPSHOT - A resident stands in front of a collapsed building following an earthquake in the town of Jandaris, in the countryside of Syria's northwestern city of Afrin in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province, on February 6, 2023. - Hundreds have been reportedly killed in north Syria after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that originated in Turkey and was felt across neighbouring countries. (Photo by Rami al SAYED / AFP) (Photo by RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images)]()
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![MALATYA, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 06: A view of debris of collapsed building after 7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Malatya, Turkiye on February 06, 2023. Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of Turkiye said the 7.7 magnitude quake struck at 4.17 a.m. (0117GMT) and was centered in the Pazarcik district in Turkiyeâs southern province of Kahramanmaras. Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis provinces are heavily affected by the quake. (Photo by Volkan Kasik/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)]()
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![AFRIN, SYRIA- FEBRUARY 6: In the earthquake that happened at 4.16 am in Turkey, houses in Syria were destroyed on February 6, 2023. According to initial estimates, there are 230 dead in Syria. An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 occurred in the Pazarck district of Kahramanmara. The earthquake was felt in many provinces, especially in Gaziantep, Sivas, Hatay, anlurfa, Mersin, Samsun and Trabzon. Turkey has issued a level 4 alarm. The alarm also contains the International help code. There are many dead and injured. There were 66 aftershocks, the largest of which was 6.6.]()
Image 20 of 49(Ugur Yildirim / dia images / Getty Images)
![Syrian rescue teams look for survivors under the rubble after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in the government-controlled central Syrian city of Hama on February 6, 2023. - The earthquake hit Turkey and Syria early on February 6, killing hundreds of people as they slept, levelling buildings and sending tremors that were felt as far away as the island of Cyprus, Egypt and Iraq.]()
Image 21 of 49(LOUAI BESHARA / AFP / Getty Images)
![HATAY, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 06: Mehmet Emin Ataoglu rescued under the rubble of 6-storey-building after 7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Iskenderun district of Hatay, Turkiye on February 06, 2023. Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of Turkiye said the 7.7 magnitude quake struck at 4.17 a.m. (0117GMT) and was centered in the Pazarcik district in Turkiyeâs southern province of Kahramanmaras. Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis provinces are heavily affected by the quake. (Photo by Murat Sengul/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)]()
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![ADANA, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 06: Rescue and search efforts continue on collapsed 14-store-building after 7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Adana, Turkiye on February 06, 2023. Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of Turkiye said the 7.7 magnitude quake struck at 4.17 a.m. (0117GMT) and was centered in the Pazarcik district in Turkiyeâs southern province of Kahramanmaras. Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis provinces are heavily affected by the quake. (Photo by Eren Bozkurt/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)]()
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![AFRIN, SYRIA- FEBRUARY 6: In the earthquake that happened at 4.16 am in Turkey, houses in Syria were destroyed on February 6, 2023. According to initial estimates, there are 230 dead in Syria. An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 occurred in the Pazarck district of Kahramanmara. The earthquake was felt in many provinces, especially in Gaziantep, Sivas, Hatay, anlurfa, Mersin, Samsun and Trabzon. Turkey has issued a level 4 alarm. The alarm also contains the International help code. There are many dead and injured. There were 66 aftershocks, the largest of which was 6.6.]()
Image 24 of 49(Ugur Yildirim / dia images / Getty Images)
![A view of a destroyed building after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake jolts Turkey's Kahramanmaras province on Feb. 6, 2023, in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Search and rescue operations continue in the area.]()
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Other images showed rescue workers pulling victims from the rubble and working on getting them to safety.
More heartbreaking images show distraught family members sitting near piles of debris as lifeless loved ones remain trapped under the rubble. Other photos show rescue dogs combing the area looking for anyone who may still be alive under the piles of destroyed buildings.
International support pours in after deadly earthquakes in Turkey, Syria
Support for Turkey and Syria has been swift and is coming from around the globe, with dozens of countries offering to help.
President Joe Biden issued a statement Monday morning, saying he was deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by the earthquakes.
"At my direction, senior American officials reached out immediately to their Turkish counterparts to coordinate any and all needed assistance," Biden said in the statement. "Our teams are deploying quickly to begin to support Turkish search and rescue efforts and address the needs of those injured and displaced by the earthquake."
Help has also been pledged from countries like South Korea, India and Pakistan.
Other organizations worldwide have also started mobilizing teams and supplies to send off to areas hit hard in Turkey and Syria.
With such catastrophic damage, however, more help is welcome. Here's an article on how you can help earthquake victims.
EAST VS. WEST: WHY EARTHQUAKES ARE FELT DIFFERENTLY ON EITHER SIDE OF THE U.S.
Monday's initial 7.8 magnitude quake had a depth of 11 miles and was likely felt as far away as Beirut in Lebanon and Cairo in Egypt, according to USGS data.
Catastrophic earthquakes rocked Turkey and Syria on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023.
The area where the earthquake struck is considered seismically active. However, the USGS said there had previously only been three quakes of magnitude 6 or larger within about 150 miles of the epicenter since 1970.
The AP noted that some 18,000 people were killed during powerful earthquakes that shook northwestern Turkey in 1999.