February 7, 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake news

By Tara Subramaniam, Sana Noor Haq, Christian Edwards, Ed Upright, Aditi Sangal, Leinz Vales, Mike Hayes, Tori B. Powell and Elise Hammond, CNN

Updated 12:03 a.m. ET, February 8, 2023
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12:45 p.m. ET, February 7, 2023

More than 5,000 buildings collapsed in Turkey after deadly earthquake

From CNN's Hande Atay Alam 

A man walks through the wreckage of a collapsed building in Maras, Turkey, on February 7.
A man walks through the wreckage of a collapsed building in Maras, Turkey, on February 7. (Yavuz Ozden/dia images/Getty Images)

At least 5,775 buildings collapsed after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit 10 provinces in Turkey on Monday, according to Orhan Tatar, Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Agency's general director (AFAD). 

Tatar said, there are a total of 60,217 personnel who are helping with rescue operations in 10 provinces in Turkey.

12:36 p.m. ET, February 7, 2023

19 Ukrainians are missing and 4 are injured in the earthquake, Ukrainian foreign ministry says

From Kostan Nechyporenko in Kyiv

At least four Ukrainian nationals were injured and 19 are missing following the earthquake in Turkey, according to a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.

"In total, diplomats have already found 38 [Ukrainian] citizens and are working with Turkish rescue services to find the other 19 Ukrainians who have not been in touch," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said. 

The four wounded Ukrainians suffered "minor injuries. Their lives are not in danger, and they do not need hospitalization," Nikolenko said, adding that "the victims are provided with temporary housing and food."

He added that the ministry is preparing to send Ukrainian consuls to the city of Gaziantep.

12:29 p.m. ET, February 7, 2023

Canada commits $7.5 million to earthquake relief

From CNN’s Paula Newton in Ottawa

Canada says it is conferring with allies and trusted aid organizations as it considers how best to aid victims of the earthquake that has left thousands dead in Turkey in Syria, a process it says is complicated by a civil war in Syria and weather and logistics issues in Turkey.

Canada announced an initial $7.5 million in aid Tuesday and said it is considering matching private donations. And the Canadian government says it is still assessing both the initial and long-term needs in both Turkey and Syria.

“We have to conduct the assessments but figure out, you know, all that information has to be kind of worked out. Nothing's off the table so we’ll look at any options,” said Harjit Sajjan, Canada’s minister for International Development, during a press briefing with reporters in Ottawa Tuesday.

Canada says it is considering sending search and rescue and medical teams in addition to possibly deploying the Canadian Armed Forces Disaster Assistance Response Team.

12:18 p.m. ET, February 7, 2023

Turkish port of Iskenderun remains closed following earthquake damage and fire, shipping firm says

From CNN's Chris Liakos

A fire burns in shipping containers that overturned at the Iskenderun Port in Hatay, Turkey, on February 7.
A fire burns in shipping containers that overturned at the Iskenderun Port in Hatay, Turkey, on February 7. (Sezgin Pancar/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

The Turkish port of Iskenderun remains closed following heavy damage from Monday’s earthquake and the subsequent fire which broke out amongst containers at the terminal yesterday evening, Danish container shipping firm Maersk said on Tuesday.

“The Port of Iskenderun remains closed until further notice, as teams look to repair the significant damage caused by the disaster and subsequent fire,” Maersk said in an updated statement Tuesday.

The company said that it is unclear when operations will resume and that it is looking to develop contingency plans, including diverting vessels.

“It’s not yet known how long recovery efforts will take and when the port can undergo a full inspection of the damage,” Maersk said.
“At this time, we are not accepting any new bookings to and from Iskenderun. Our teams are hard at work developing contingency plans involving nearby hubs and additional feeder vessels, with the aim of minimizing the overall impact on customers and their supply chains,” the container shipping giant added.

Earlier on Tuesday, the company said that the fire was yet to be fully under control by authorities.

Separately, Maersk told CNN that it has been working with the EU and other global partners since early Monday morning “to assess and provide the support needed in Turkey and Syria.”

12:14 p.m. ET, February 7, 2023

At least 6,326 have died due to the earthquake as Turkey's numbers continue to climb

From CNN's Hande Atay Alam

A soldier sits devastated near the collapsed building in Hatay, Turkey, on February 07.
A soldier sits devastated near the collapsed building in Hatay, Turkey, on February 07. (Burak Kara/Getty Images)

At least 6,326 people across Turkey and Syria have been killed in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the region on Monday.

The death toll climbed to 4,544 in Turkey on Tuesday where 10 provinces were impacted, according to Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD).

The number of those killed in Syria is more than 1,782: More than 970 people have been killed in opposition-held areas, according to Syria’s White Helmets, which is also known as Syria Civil Defense. In government-controlled areas, the death toll is 812, according to the state news agency SANA.

At least 30,474 people have been injured in the two countries, according to figures from the Turkish government, the White Helmets, and Syrian state media.

12:06 p.m. ET, February 7, 2023

Virginia first responders en route to Turkey

From CNN’s Sara Smart

The Virginia Task Force 1 is sending a crew of 79 members and six dogs to Turkey following the devastating earthquakes, the team tweeted on Monday.

The team will join 78 members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, who plan to depart on Monday evening, the department said in a release.

USA-01 Heavy USAR team members are in the air enroute to Turkey as a part of the USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Assistance Response Team.
USA-01 Heavy USAR team members are in the air enroute to Turkey as a part of the USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Assistance Response Team. (Virginia Task Force 1)

In this handout photo released on February 7, equipment and supplies for the Urban Search and Rescue team from Fairfax, Virginia, and USAID are loaded onto a transport plane to help in support operations for victims of the earthquake in Turkey, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.
In this handout photo released on February 7, equipment and supplies for the Urban Search and Rescue team from Fairfax, Virginia, and USAID are loaded onto a transport plane to help in support operations for victims of the earthquake in Turkey, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. (US Air Force/Handout/Reuters)
4:31 p.m. ET, February 7, 2023

In photos: Aftermath of the deadly earthquake in Turkey and Syria

From CNN Digital's Photo team

Rescuers in Turkey and Syria are searching for survivors after a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the region on Monday, killing more than 5,000 people and injuring tens of thousands.

The region rocked by the powerful earthquake is overrun with ruins from collapsed buildings. Here are scenes from today's aftermath. For more photos, go to our gallery.

Rescue teams carry the body of a victim from a destroyed building in Aleppo, Syria, on Tuesday, February 7.
Rescue teams carry the body of a victim from a destroyed building in Aleppo, Syria, on Tuesday, February 7. (Omar Sanadiki/AP)

Rescue teams search for people in a destroyed building in Adana, Turkey.
Rescue teams search for people in a destroyed building in Adana, Turkey. (Francisco Seco/AP)

Black smoke rises from a fire at the Iskenderun port in Iskenderun, Turkey.
Black smoke rises from a fire at the Iskenderun port in Iskenderun, Turkey. (Serday Ozsoy/Depo Photos/Reuters)

A survivor cries as rescuers look for victims in Hatay, Turkey.
A survivor cries as rescuers look for victims in Hatay, Turkey. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images)

Debris from a collapsed building surrounds an area in Kahramanmaras, Turkey.
Debris from a collapsed building surrounds an area in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. (Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images

Survivors huddle around a fire as they wait for news of their loved ones in Iskenderun, Turkey.
Survivors huddle around a fire as they wait for news of their loved ones in Iskenderun, Turkey. (Burak Kara/Getty Images)

People hand out food to survivors in the Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaraş, Turkey.
People hand out food to survivors in the Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaraş, Turkey. (Hakan Akgun/Demiroren Visual Media/Abaca/Sipa USA/AP)

A man sits next to the body of a loved one covered with a blanket at the site of a collapsed building in Hatay, Turkey.
A man sits next to the body of a loved one covered with a blanket at the site of a collapsed building in Hatay, Turkey. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters)

11:38 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

At least 5,415 people across Turkey and Syria have died in the earthquake

From CNN's Hande Atay Alam and Hira Humayun

Women weep next to bodies lying on the back of a truck in Jandaris, Syria, on February 7.
Women weep next to bodies lying on the back of a truck in Jandaris, Syria, on February 7. (Mohammed Al-Rifai/AFP/Getty Images)

At least 5,415 people across Turkey and Syria have been killed in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the region on Monday.

In Turkey, the death toll is 3,703, according to Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD).

The number of those killed in Syria is more than 1,712: More than 900 people have been killed in opposition-held areas, according to Syria’s White Helmets, which is also known as Syria Civil Defense. In government-controlled areas, the death toll is 812, according to the state news agency SANA.

More than 26,035 people have been injured according to figures from the Turkish government, the White Helmets and Syrian state media.

11:35 a.m. ET, February 7, 2023

There have been at least 125 aftershocks so far in Turkey, according to US agency

From CNN's Monica Garrett

At least 125 aftershocks measuring 4.0 or greater have occurred since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey on Monday morning local time, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The frequency and magnitude of the aftershocks are decreasing as is expected as we get further out in the time from the original earthquake. However, 5.0 to 6.0+ aftershocks are still possible and bring a risk of additional damage to structures that are compromised from the original earthquake. This brings a continued threat to rescue teams and survivors.

The aftershocks stretch for more than 400 kilometers (or about 250 miles) along the fault zone that ruptured in southern Turkey, oriented from southwest to northeast and stretching from the Mediterranean Sea off the northern coast of Syria up through the province of Malatya.