A rescue team works on a collapsed building, following an earthquake in Osmaniye, Turkey February 6, 2023. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya
At least 5,606 buildings collapsed during and after the earthquake on Monday, according to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency.
There are a total of 19,574 rescue personnel working in the earthquake region for recovery efforts, an AFAD statement said.
Turkish Airlines announced Monday that flight operations to Adana, Elazig, and Diyarbakir continue for citizens who want to reach the earthquake zone.
According to Afad’s statement, the airports in Malatya, Adana, Diyarbakır, and Adıyaman are open to all flights. Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa Airports are only open to aid flights while Kahramanmaraş and Hatay airports are closed to flights due to the earthquake damage, an AFAD statement said.
The death toll in Turkey climbed to 2,316 on Monday, according to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD).
EU activates crisis response mechanism to coordinate quicker support to Turkey and Syria
From CNN’s Sugam Pokharel
The European Union has activated its crisis response mechanism in order to coordinate the bloc’s support measures to Turkey and Syria quicker after devastating earthquakes on Monday.
“The Swedish presidency has decided on 6 February 2023 to activate the integrated political crisis response (IPCR) to coordinate EU support measures in response to the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria, in close collaboration with the European Commission,” the EU Council said in a statement.
The IPCR arrangements strengthen the EU’s ability to take rapid decisions when facing major cross-sectoral crises requiring a response at EU level, it said.
Through this mechanism, the presidency of the Council coordinates the political response to the crisis by bringing together EU institutions, member states and other key actors, the EU Council added.
