1,000+ killed, infrastructure and historic sites damaged: What is known about horrific quakes in Türkiye and Syria

By admin On Feb 6, 2023

Powerful tremors continue to hit both countries, compounding the death and devastation

On Monday morning, a powerful earthquake struck in southern Türkiye, causing significant destruction across the country and in neighboring Syria. Over a thousand people were reported killed, as buildings collapsed and infrastructure was damaged on both sides of the border.

Here is what is known about the disaster so far.

Crucial infrastructure damaged

In both Türkiye and Syria, the quake caused damage to key infrastructure. In the Turkish Kilis Province, natural gas pipelines ruptured, with the fuel bursting into large plumes of flame, according to footage circulating online. Operator BOTAS said it cut the flow, but pressurized gas in the pipeline continued to feed the fires.
In Syria, a refinery in the city of Baniyas, one of the largest in the country, had to be shut down for at least 48 hours due to cracks in the chimney of its power unit, the Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources reported.

The Syrian government also ordered all trains to be stopped as a precaution following the earthquake.
Turkish authorities closed the Hatay Airport due to the damage it sustained and suspended all civilian flights via the Gaziantep International Airport amid the emergency. The ports of Ceyhan and Iskenderun were reportedly closed too.