The Horror of the Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

Monday, Feb.6, 2023 – The Gaziantep Province was struck by an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale, followed by 60 aftershocks, the strongest of which was with a magnitude of 7.6, causing enormous devastation in Turkey and Syria. This is one of the biggest natural disasters in the history of both countries.

The region of Gaziantep is placed between two tectonic plates - Arabian and Anatolian. Their collision resulted in a huge amount of stress released, leading to a destructive earthquake.

What is the extent of the damage?

More than 46 000 deaths have been registered on the territory of Turkey and Syria until now, according to The Washington Post. However, the chances they continue to rise in the next few days are huge because the search for people left under the ruins continues. 

A report published by the Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation estimates the earthquake will cost Turkey $84 billion. Countless buildings in the region of southeast Turkey and the northwest border of Syria have collapsed, leaving many people without homes. 

Hatay, Kahramanmaras, and other big Turkish cities in the region have been practically destroyed by the quake.

How do Turkish people deal with this devastating event?

"Apocalypse." - This is how some of the Turkish students at AUBG described the situation in Turkey right now.

"I want to thank the other countries that help," Berrin Mujde Klivington, a Turkish citizen, said. "Everybody in Turkey is trying to do their best to help,"  Mujde said.

"It feels so bad to see these places I have seen before as ruins, it was devastating," Berkay Ulc, a Turkish AUBG student, said. "It would be hard for Turkey to bounce back," Sude Kaya, a Turkish student at AUBG, said. 

Despite the dark reality at the moment, they wanted to send a positive message to the whole Turkish society, "There is always hope as long as there is somebody who takes care of the country and is proud to be Turkish."

How can we help the damaged regions?

These are some of the ways people in the damaged regions in Turkey and Syria can receive help:

Charities: UNICEF Bank Account - IBAN: BG34RZBB91551065034919

SMS with text UNICEF on 1021 (valid for Bulgaria)

https://www.savethechildren.org/us/what-we-do/emergency-response/turkey-syria-earthquake

https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/turkey-syria-earthquake-appeal

Direct money transfers: BANK: T.C. ZIRAAT BANKASI A.S. – SOFIA BRANCH
Name of the bank account: EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY
Leva account:
IBAN: BG64TCZB93501010150300
Euro account:
IBAN: BG89TCZB93501410150302
SWIFT/BIC KODU: TCZBBGSF

Fundraisers: https://www.kauzi.bg/blog/?page_id=6496

https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/turkey-syria-earthquake-help

Our hopes and prayers are with the people from Turkey and Syria.