Latest updates on Turkey and Syria’s earthquake, and how you can help

Open this photo in gallery:

Latest earthquake updates

• Rescuers pulled an 18-year-old earthquake survivor from the rubble in southern Turkey on Tuesday, 198 hours after a disaster that has so far killed more than 37,000 people along the Turkish-Syrian border. Some search teams have started scaling back their efforts as the chances of finding more people diminish.
• Canada needs to change how it deploys rescue crews to disasters, the Turkish-Canadian Society says after only one crew from Burnaby, B.C., made it to the quake zone before the deadline for participation ended. The federal government pledged $10-million in aid, which International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan said was a faster way to help than sending specialized teams.

Devastation in Turkey and Syria so far

Turkey and Syria lie at a complex junction of tectonic plates, where the North and East Anatolian faults can cause devastating earthquakes. The latest is roughly as powerful as the one that struck western Turkey in 1999 and killed more than 18,000.

On Feb. 6, a 7.8-magnitude quake, centred near the Turkish city of Nurdagi, began just before dawn when many were still sleeping. It was followed hours later by a 7.5-magnitude quake whose epicentre was about 100 kilometres from the first. Thousands of buildings were reported collapsed as rescuers raced to dig survivors from the rubble. Major cities affected include Aleppo and Hama in Syria, and Diyarbakir, Gaziantep and Iskenderun in Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at least 13.5 million of the nation’s 85 million were affected in some way. He declared a three-month state of emergency in 10 provinces, allowing local authorities more power to enact new laws and restrict civil liberties without parliament’s approval. “Hopefully, we will leave these disastrous days behind us in unity and solidarity as a country and a nation,” Mr. Erdogan said on Feb. 6.

First earthquake: 7.8 magnitude

ShakeMap intensity

4

5

6

7

8

Black Sea

TURKEY

Malatya

Epicentre

Diyarbakir

Gaziantep

Osmaniye

Hatay

Aleppo

SYRIA

First earthquake: 7.8 magnitude

ShakeMap intensity

4

5

6

7

8

Black Sea

TURKEY

Ankara

Malatya

Epicentre

Diyarbakir

Gaziantep

Osmaniye

Hatay

Aleppo

SYRIA

First earthquake: 7.8 magnitude

ShakeMap intensity

4

5

6

7

8

Black Sea

Istanbul

TURKEY

Ankara

Malatya

Epicentre

Diyarbakir

Gaziantep

Osmaniye

Hatay

Aleppo

SYRIA

IRAQ

Mediterranean Sea

Second earthquake: 7.5 magnitude

ShakeMap intensity

4

5

6

7

8

Black Sea

TURKEY

Epicentre

Malatya

Diyarbakir

Gaziantep

Osmaniye

Hatay

Aleppo

SYRIA

Note: A ShakeMap is a representation of ground shaking produced by an earthquake, which is different from the earthquake’s magnitude.

MURAT YÜKSELIR / THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: USGS; NATURAL EARTH DATA

Second earthquake: 7.5 magnitude

ShakeMap intensity

4

5

6

7

8

Black Sea

TURKEY

Ankara

Epicentre

Malatya

Diyarbakir

Gaziantep

Osmaniye

Hatay

Aleppo

SYRIA

Note: A ShakeMap is a representation of ground shaking produced by an earthquake, which is different from the earthquake’s magnitude.

MURAT YÜKSELIR / THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: USGS; NATURAL EARTH DATA

Second earthquake: 7.5 magnitude

ShakeMap intensity

4

5

6

7

8

Black Sea

Istanbul

TURKEY

Ankara

Epicentre

Malatya

Diyarbakir

Gaziantep

Osmaniye

Hatay

Aleppo

SYRIA

IRAQ

Mediterranean Sea

Note: A ShakeMap is a representation of ground shaking produced by an earthquake, which is different from the earthquake’s magnitude.

MURAT YÜKSELIR / THE GLOBE AND MAIL, SOURCE: USGS; NATURAL EARTH DATA

What happens when an earthquake hits a war zone?

In northwestern Syria, last stronghold of rebel forces in a 12-year-old civil war, the earthquake could not have come in worse circumstances. Buildings in rebel-held cities were already weakened by years of bombing by the al-Assad regime’s Russian-backed forces. Severe winter storms had cut off the roads to vulnerable communities where refugees live in makeshift camps. “There is a huge amount of suffering, and this will increase it,” Abdel Hakim al-Masri, economy minister with the Turkish-backed Syrian Interim Government, told The Associated Press.

Civil war has effectively divided the Syrian relief effort in two. The regime forbids some aid groups, such as the Molham Volunteering Team, from working in areas it controls, and Syrians abroad may hesitate to donate to organizations that are allowed there in case the money ends up with al-Assad loyalists. Syria’s government has asked western countries to waive anti-regime sanctions to send aid.

How the world is helping Turkey and Syria

Dozens of governments have offered Turkey help with search-and-rescue operations and supplies such as water-treatment units, tents and medicine. Here are some of the pledges so far.

• World Health Organization: The United Nations agency’s chief said its network of emergency medical teams has been activated to provide essential health care.
• United States: The Biden administration sent two 79-member search and rescue teams to Turkey.
• Canada: The federal government has committed $10-million in aid, International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan said Tuesday. Only one rescue team, a group of firefighters and first responders from Burnaby, B.C., made it to Turkey before the participation deadline passed.
• European Union: The EU’s 24/7 Emergency Response Coordination Centre activated its emergency Copernicus satellite mapping service to help first responders, European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic said. Various European states have deployed their own search-and-rescue teams.

How you can help

As charities and diaspora groups collect funds for the earthquake victims, Canadians who wish to support them should first do their research. Make sure the organization is credible and has a solid track record in the work it advertises; resources such as Charity Intelligence Canada can help with this. You can also check the Canada Revenue Agency to see whether its registration is up to date. Be aware that relief groups based abroad may not be able to issue you tax receipts for donations.

• Canadian Red Cross: Until Feb. 22, the federal government will match individual donations to the Red Cross, up to a maximum of $10-million.
• UNHCR: The United Nations refugee agency supports those fleeing the Syrian conflict with emergency supplies and medicine.
• White Helmets: Since 2018, this volunteer rescue group has helped Syrians through search-and-rescue operations, evacuations and medical care.
• Molham: A non-profit relief group founded by Syrian university students in 2012.
• Médecins sans frontières (Doctors Without Borders): This non-governmental organization had been in Syria before the quake and has mobilized more resources there.
• Union of Medical Relief and Care Organizations: A French-based coalition of humanitarian groups that supports Syrian victims of war.
• Islamic Relief Canada: A charity providing basic services to vulnerable people in disaster areas.
• Oxfam Canada: This global anti-poverty organization is raising funds for humanitarian efforts in Turkey and Syria.
• Save the Children: The Canadian branch of this international NGO is accepting donations for children and families in the disaster area.
• LaunchGood: A crowdfunding platform with dozens of active campaigns for earthquake relief.

Associated Press and Reuters, with a report from Evan Annett

Compiled by Globe staff