As Türkiye displays on the solemn anniversary of the catastrophic earthquakes that struck 11 southeastern provinces on Feb. 6, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on Friday revealed the official demise toll was 53,537 individuals as he offered a complete replace on the nation’s response and restoration efforts a 12 months after the very fact.
Yerlikaya recounted the swift and coordinated response initiated underneath the management of then-Vice President Fuat Oktay, together with the declaration of a Level 4 emergency – the best type – by the Türkiye Disaster Response Plan and the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), simply 45 minutes after the earthquake occurred.
“Under the directives of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, all Cabinet ministers mobilized to coordinate relief efforts in affected provinces. A total of 708 civil administrators, including governors, chief civil inspectors, district governors and deputy governors, were dispatched to the earthquake region to bolster local leadership,” Yerlikaya knowledgeable.
Key milestones within the response included the speedy deployment of search and rescue personnel, AFAD volunteers and building gear to the affected areas, based on the minister.
“Within nine hours of the first earthquake, individual tents were set up and international assistance began arriving with planes transporting search and rescue personnel and heavy tonnage vehicles,” mentioned Yerlikaya.
Tragically, a second earthquake, measuring 7.6 magnitude, struck Kahramanmaraş’s Elbistan district simply 9 hours after the preliminary jolt. Despite the challenges, search and rescue efforts, in addition to support deliveries, continued tirelessly.
“The earthquakes caused extensive destruction across 11 provinces, 124 districts, and 6,929 villages and neighborhoods, covering an area of 120,000 square kilometers (over 46,000 square miles). A total of 53,537 lives were lost, with 107,213 citizens sustaining injuries, directly impacting 14 million people,” Yerlikaya mentioned.
The focus within the speedy aftermath centered on search and rescue actions and momentary shelter companies. Yerlikaya mentioned over 38,901 buildings have been destroyed, and search and rescue operations have been carried out in 26,000 occupied buildings.
“A remarkable 650,000 personnel, including 11,488 international and 35,250 search and rescue personnel, worked tirelessly alongside 142,000 security personnel.”
The complete response concerned 20,000 automobiles and building gear, 141 helicopters, 182 plane and 23 ships. A complete of 17,500 sorties have been carried out by planes and helicopters.
Initially, 1 million tents have been dispatched to the area, with some distributed individually, whereas 645,000 tents have been strategically arrange in 350 designated tent metropolis areas. This initiative offered momentary shelter for about 2.5 million catastrophe victims. Simultaneously, the evacuation of three.5 million affected people searching for refuge with kinfolk was coordinated.
Turkish Airlines (THY) made historical past throughout this era, endeavor 13,701 flights to move over 2 million passengers, whereas facilitating the supply of 32,770 tons of aid supplies to the catastrophe zone by 712 cargo flights.
Amid this multifaceted coordination, the manufacturing of momentary shelter facilities – container cities – commenced. The first particular person container was put in on the second day of the earthquake, marking the start of life within the inaugural container metropolis in Kahramanmaraş on Feb. 20.
Presently, 215,224 containers are included in 414 container cities, internet hosting 691,000 catastrophe victims.
After the earthquakes, meticulous consideration was given to wreck evaluation and particles removing. Assessment groups evaluated 2.3 million buildings and 6,227,000 unbiased sections within the earthquake zone.
The particles of 60,421 urgently demolished and collapsed buildings have been efficiently cleared inside 68 days. For the 200,401 severely broken buildings, particles removing reached 166,602, reaching 91% quantity clearance up to now. Ongoing efforts are relentlessly targeted on finishing the remaining particles removing processes.
Yerlikaya emphasised the dedication and hopefulness of these concerned in search and rescue efforts, citing unforgettable moments of resilience, willpower and reunification that motivated continued diligence within the area.
Source: www.dailysabah.com