President Erdoğan made a statement regarding the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş at the State Information Coordination Center.
The highlights in President Erdoğan's statement were as follows:
Two major earthquakes, centered on the Pazarcık and Elbistan districts of Kahramanmaraş, caused great destruction in 10 provinces in a wide area where approximately 13.5 million citizens live.
Experts describe the two earthquakes as exceptional ground movements that are independent from each other but triggering each other, which has no example in the world. Both earthquakes were experienced at a distance of 7 kilometers from the earth, increasing the severity of the destruction exponentially.
In terms of the width of the broken faults, these earthquakes caused great destruction in a very large area compared to their counterparts. Therefore, we are faced with one of the greatest disasters not only in the history of our Republic, but also in our geography and the world.
Our state has started to work in disaster areas with the spirit of mobilization from the first moment of the earthquake, with all its institutions, organizations, personnel, tools, equipment and facilities. Considering the devastation effect of the earthquake on our 10 provinces, we instructed our expert personnel and vehicles from all over the country to move to the region immediately.
Despite the difficulties caused by the weather conditions, our teams struggled selflessly to reach the disaster area and participate in the work. The hazards posed by a large number of aftershocks in damaged buildings also adversely affect the work.
We are rapidly continuing our search and rescue efforts. Currently, our 53,317 search and rescue officers and support personnel are working in the wreckage area. This number is increasing with each passing hour with additional teams coming from Turkey and abroad.
A large number of public officials, non-governmental organizations and volunteers also take part in aid efforts. We are also implementing step-by-step measures for all the needs of the disaster survivors, from shelter to clothing, from food to heating.
So far, 54 thousand tents, 102 thousand beds and other necessities have been sent to the region to be delivered to the disaster victims.
We have allocated a resource of 100 billion liras to the disposal of our institutions.
There are still difficulties in the transportation of crew and materials.
The TSK is involved in studies with thousands of personnel.
In total, 5 thousand health personnel were transferred. All over the country, our citizens donate blood.
We also commissioned our unmanned aerial vehicles.
Thousands of construction equipment are on the move from all over our country to the region.
Currently, we have 3,549 deaths and 22,168 injuries. It is our greatest consolation that more than 8 thousand of our citizens have been saved alive so far.
Plans for hotels to accommodate disaster victims are ongoing. Only in the Antalya region, 50 thousand beds were prepared for this.
We talked to 18 heads of state and government who called us on the phone.
I invite our people and business world to donate to AFAD accounts. No fee will be charged for transfers made to AFAD accounts.
However, the severity of the effects of the earthquake disaster we experienced necessitates taking extraordinary measures.
We declare our 10 provinces where the earthquake was experienced as Disaster Areas Affecting General Life. We decided to declare a state of emergency based on the authority given to us by Article 119 of the Constitution in order to ensure that the search and rescue activities and subsequent work can be carried out quickly. We will quickly complete the Presidency and Parliamentary processes regarding this decision, which will cover 10 provinces where earthquakes have occurred and will last for 3 months.
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