By India Blooms News Service Feb 12, 2023
Ankara/UNI: Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay Saturday late night said that at least 24,617 people were killed by two strong earthquakes that jolted the southern part of the country earlier this week.
Oktay said 32,071 search and rescue teams continue to work.
He added the Earthquake Crimes Investigation Departments have been established by the prosecutors offices on instructions of the Justice Ministry in 10 provinces affected by the quakes in the southeast.
He noted that the responsibilities of 131 suspects in buildings which collapsed in the quakes were determined. One of the suspects was arrested and arrest warrants have been issued for 113 others.
Earlier, The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said 80,278 people were injured in the earthquakes.
The 7.7 and 7.6-magnitude quakes, centred in Kahramanmaras province, were felt Monday by 13 million people across 10 provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa.
Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, felt the strong tremors that struck Turkey in less than 10 hours.
At least 218,406 search and rescue personnel are working in the field, according to the AFAD statement.
Meanwhile, Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum said inspections at 171,882 buildings in 10 provinces were conducted.
After the initial earthquake, an air aid corridor was created by the Turkish Armed Forces to deliver search and rescue teams to the region, Anadolu news reports.
Condolences have poured in from around the world expressing solidarity with Trkiye, with many countries sending rescue teams and aid.