By: Khadija Nadeem, Gr 11
On February 6th, two large earthquakes impacted the southeastern region of Turkey near the border of Northern Syria initially killing thousands and toppling buildings across regions. The first measured at 7.8 on the Richter scale struck early in the morning, and less than 12 hours later a second, measured at 7.6, struck the same areas.
Felt by millions of people across both countries and more than 100 aftershocks
following this, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in 10 provinces across Turkey. In Syria, the areas affected are divided by government territory and opposition-held land encircled by Russian-backed forces. The scale of destruction in the towns and cities across the region is shown in the destruction of buildings both commercial and residential. At a depth of just 18km below the Earth’s surface, both earthquakes were relatively shallow meaning the proximity of
seismic activity made the shaking quite severe. Although Turkey is in one of the world’s most active earthquake zones, Monday’s earthquakes exceeded the catastrophic 1999 earthquake that lasted 45 seconds and had an official death toll standing over 17, 000 within a few days. In the last 7 occurrences of a significant seismic shift in Turkey, the most recent in Kahramanmaras has ranked the highest and has reached the largest death count.
For much of the past week, the frantic work of rescuing people from the debris of Turkey and Syria’s earthquakes has been on a constant move but slowly, that routine is beginning to end. Instead of searching for survivors, debris is being moved from areas, and gone are the quiet pauses to stop and listen for signs of life. Post-earthquake responses have now entered a new phase, where finding and burying the dead has become a priority. Cemeteries are being expanded and volunteers are helping to respectfully lay the dead to rest. Under Islamic tradition, the bodies are washed and undergo the correct processes before being wrapped and buried. Now, the survivors face the long and difficult months approaching. Relief centres with tents and stalls with hot meals have been set up to help families settle for however long into the makeshift camps.
With entire support systems disintegrated, some don’t know how long they’ll be living in this state until they are able to return to some semblance of normal. In some parts of Turkey, people have lost hope that rebuilding efforts will begin any time soon if ever especially in cities near the Syrian border where it appears as if almost every building has suffered significant damage. With many 12-story buildings domino-ed into three or four meters of concrete, no one may ever know how many people were asleep inside when the earthquake hit. The shock and psychological collapse are what professionals at the scene fear the most, both people and the towns turning into ghosts.
From social media influencers to the United Nations, everyone across the planet is working to try to find the best way to help the citizens of the affected zones. Aid groups are sending food and supplies but efforts have been delayed due to cold temperatures, blocked roads, and the ongoing conflict in Syria. Additionally, Syria’s economy has already been struggling due to its political state, and refugees from there have hoped to find homes in Turkey, still trying to settle. President Erdogan has stated that 70 countries have offered help along with organizations such as the United Nations, and the World Health Organization. Canada itself has announced that $10 million dollars of immediate aid will be provided to Turkey. Ordinary citizens are also taking action to provide what help they can to citizens. Some have started GoFundMe campaigns while others have fundraised door-to-door. Popular Twitch streamers have raised nearly $1 million US so far and people around the world are continuing to donate what they
can. If you choose to donate to those in need, ensure that your efforts are going to reputable charities that are able to help struggling areas. Cash and non-perishable food donations are welcome, but so are things like blankets, baby diapers, sanitary pads, and more. Most organizations will provide a list of items they are most in need of, so remember to give with an open heart.
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
