Should You Travel to Turkey After the 2023 Earthquake? But there are thousands of those buildings;it would be incredibly costly and many of those buildingsare generally in poor shape, Bal said. Istanbul residents watched the news coming from southeastern Turkey in shock, knowing that experts have said an earthquake in Istanbul is highly likely. After massive Turkey quakes, Istanbul residents fear the next one More than 17,000 people have been killed by the 7.8-magnitude tremor that hit earlier this weekabout 26 km east of the Turkish city of Nurdagi at a depth of about 18 km on the East Anatolian Fault. Rahvanci, who lives in the Kadikoy district . Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world. It was the strongest earthquake in Turkey since a quake in 1939,. hide caption. As Turkey's leaders promise a swift start to reconstruction efforts in the earthquake zone, attention is also turning to Istanbul and whether Turkey's largest city has done what it can to be ready for a major quake. Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. The toll is threatened to climb much higher because many buildings were destroyed in the strong tremor. Staff members were offering blankets to stranded passengers but had run out before he received one. Millions at risk in expected Istanbul earthquake A port and some airport runways have been damaged - CNN Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Istanbul Airport the country's main hub for international flights is operating as normal. The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office updated its guidance for UK travellers, advising tourists to avoid the immediate vicinity of the incident, which took place in the city of Gaziantep. Will Flights or Holidays to Istanbul be Cancelled? Earthquake researchers predictthat an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 or stronger is very likely tostrike Istanbul, which is close to the North Anatolian Fault, within the next 70 years. Geological survey agencies said more could occur. Ozgenler's answer is yes. Humanitarian aid relief packages provided by Saudi Arabia being unloaded at Aleppo International Airport in northern Syria. What areas have been affected by the earthquake? What travelers to Turkey need to know | CNN (IHA Photo) The first airport closure is Turkey's Adana Sakirpasa Airport (ADA). Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in. ISTANBUL The new Istanbul Modern museum is a study in contradictions: It provides stunning views across the water of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque on the European side of this city and to Asia . Updated 12:40 PM EST, Tue February 28, 2023 Link Copied! However, some flights to and from Istanbul airport were affected by a snowstorm that hit the . Currently, only planes carrying aid and rescue teams are allowed to land and take off from the two airports, reported Turkey-based publication the Daily Sabah. Thousands of rescue workers leave Istanbul Airport for earthquake Other videos posted by local news channels showed dozens of black-clad police officers in the departure hall, as the chanting continued. President Vladimir Putin of Russia has extended help to both Turkey and Syria, as has Iran. Turkey: Black ribbon displayed at Istanbul airport to mourn earthquake Those who want to help earthquake victims and support the relief efforts on the ground can make direct monetary donations to these organizations. The airline is prioritising operations to help with search-and-rescue efforts. Catch Up 35 Posts Sort by 5:11 a.m. Critics have pointed to so-called "zoning amnesties" given to contractors. At the time of writing, the combined death toll of the incident in Syria and Turkey stands at more than 9,400. His connecting flight to London on the same airline which was supposed to leave a few hours later sat on the tarmac for 10 hours, unable to take off because of the snow, as passengers waited for a rescue team to get them off the plane, he said. Earthquake No Flights Cancelled, Snowstorm Causes Delays Sina Boroumand, a PhD student at Imperial College in London, said he had been stranded at the airport since his Turkish Airlines flight from Iran arrived in Istanbul shortly before 11 a.m. Monday. Turkey is currently in a three-month state of national emergency due to the earthquake. Weve been stuck in #IST airport for 30 hours with no help or answers from @TurkishAirlines. Even if building owners or tenants do bear some blame for weakening buildings in earthquake-prone areas, analyst Sinan Ulgen at Istanbul's Center for Economics and Foreign Policy says ultimately it's up to the state to regulate that to enforce the building codes on the books. Some Turkish Airports Closed Following Earthquake Damage - Simple Flying Rescue workers departed Istanbul Airport this morning, 7 February, to travel to regions affected by yesterdays earthquakes. But themagnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the western city of Izmit in 1999, killing more than17,000 people, led to a new set of regulationsand astricter seismic code in Turkey, he said. Asia-Pacific Images Studio/E+/Getty Images, Currently, international flights are still available. ISTANBUL The death toll continues to rise from the 7.8-magnitude earthquake and powerful aftershocks that hit southern Turkey and northern Syria. The city is in the southeast of the country, close to the Syrian border and a sizeable distance from Turkeys tourism hubs. The 7.8 magnitude quake is the strongest to hit Turkey in more than eight decades; the country saw a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in August 1999, but the last recorded 7.8 incident was in December 1939. Languages: . Turkey's Earthquake Hit Hatay Airport Reopens After Runway Repairs But Ozgenler would like to nominate another group which he holds even more responsible: the buildings' owners and tenants. The ancient historic site of Gaziantep Castle (circa 656 AD), has also been badly damaged by the shock. Turkish Airlines helps in evacuation, transporting volunteers after International search and rescue teams who came to Istanbul Airport from the earthquake zones to return to their countries were thanked in 15 different languages on the giant screens at the airport with a text, "Thank you for your solidarity.". The town is 842km east of Antalya, and 196km north of Gaziantep. What travelers to Turkey need to know | CNN France, Germany, Israel, and the US have also pledged to help. Kilis Adana Malatya Will my flight to Turkey be cancelled? Reuters. Turkey and Syria were hit by three powerful earthquakes on Monday, causing massive damage to infrastructure and killing more than 3,800 people. A Turkish Airlines plane at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport. ", He added, "Praise God, our country has the fastest, most effective and practical disaster response system in the world. Istanbul Airport is the main hub for most travellers arriving or departing Turkey. A year after an earthquake hit Izmir and surrounding areas in 2020, Erdogan reportedly boasted that the government had been with the people "from the very first minute. (In 2017, an architects' union said 2 million buildings in Istanbul were unsafe). Another problem, she said, is the issue of "pancaking,"where essentially the inside of the building collapses, a sign that the internal floors and structures aren't connected strongly enough to the outer wall. The 7.8 magnitude quakewas followed by dozens of. In Malatya, a historic mosque and high-rise hotel collapsed, and in Diyarbakir a city 300km from the epicentre a shopping mall collapsed following the earthquake, reported The New York Times. Video: Massive Earthquake In Turkey Splits Airport Runway Into Two "If it's in the middle of a night, it'svery hard for people to escape because when a building collapses in that way, there'svery little gaps, soessentially someone is crushed.". The initial 7.8 earthquake struck the southeastern city of Gaziantep at 4.17am local time. JeromeHajjar, a professor and department chair of the department of civil and environmentalengineering at Northeastern University in Bostonsaidit's likely that a good number of the structures may have only lightly reinforced concrete or masonry. "They have blood on their hands, and that makes me really, really angry when I see this," Ozgenler says. Thousands killed in major quakes - as it happened By Tuesday, the airports restaurants were beginning to run out of food. The death toll has risen to more than 24,000 in Turkey and neighbouring Syria. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. You should avoid the immediate vicinity and follow the advice of the local authorities.. 0 earthquakes in the past 30 days. In addition to claiming the lives of thousands of people, the natural disaster also heavily impacted many cities and provinces, which witnessed several of their buildings collapsing. On the early morning of February 6, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey's Gaziantep province, close to the Syrian border. Are holidays to Turkey in the coming weeks affected, and are airlines still operating flights? Istanbul Platform Aims to Keep Earthquake Aid Flowing Russia and Iran have offered to help both Turkey and Syria. As tremors from the initial quake were felt as far away as Cyprus, Lebanon and Israel, more than 40 aftershocks were also reported. On February 6, a powerful 7.8 earthquake struck southern and central Turkey and western Syria, which has led to over 12,000 deaths in total. Stating that 48,000 buildings are expected to be damaged and risk collapse in a magnitude 7.5 earthquake in Istanbul, Kahraman said that they expect damages to water mains, waste water and natural . Specifically, the 7.8-magnitude quake hit in the southeast of Turkey, near the town of Gaziantep, which is also close to the Syrian border, CNN reported. Dzce was one of the regions hit by a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in 1999 - the worst to hit Turkey in decades. Is it safe to travel to Turkey and Syria after the earthquakes? "What we see today in [southeastern] Turkey is just a preview of what will happen in Istanbul,"said, Ihsan Engin Bal, a professor of the Research Group on Earthquake Resistant Structures at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies, Members of the Syrian civil defence search for survivors under the rubble following an earthquake. Istanbul's mayor has said some 90,000 buildings in Istanbul could be at risk if a major earthquake hits the city. He covers Canadian and U.S. politics and current affairs. There have been several strong after-shocks. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, What its like to do the night train from Sofia to Istanbul. The earthquake has not impacted tourism in the city, and all tourist attractions in Istanbul, including museums, remain open. I saywhat will happen. As for the political implications, Ulgen says, "There are no poll numbers to show the political impact of the disaster, but ultimately it will be a handicap for the government.". .. Advertisement .. 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Click to reveal Officials have counted more than 50 aftershocks within the first 10 hours of the initial disaster. Those in the UK concerned about relatives or friends in Turkey should call the FCDO in London on 020 7008 5000. An Earthquake in Turkey Did Not Cause any Flights to be Cancelled in Istanbul, However Snowstorms Caused Delays. The areas most affected by the earthquakes in Turkey are the following ten provinces: Gaziantep, Kahramanmara, Malatya, Hatay, Osmaniye, Adyaman, Diyarbakir, Adana, anlurfa, and Kilis. We hope that we will overcome this disaster together as soon as possible, said Mr Erdoan in a televised address. Most international airlines continue to operate as normal to and from Turkey, but some regional airports have closed to commercial traffic. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. He says many of the buildings that toppled over this month were left with their upper stories basically intact. Officials at Istanbul Airport among the worlds biggest, and one of President Recep Tayyip Erdogans vaunted megaprojects announced Monday evening that flights would be suspended until early Tuesday morning due to adverse weather and heavy snowfall. The roof of a temporary cargo building used by Turkish Airlines collapsed because of the snow accumulation Monday but caused no injuries, an official from the company said. Crisis24 reported that Gazientep Airport, Hatay Airport and the seaport of Ceyhan have also been closed and operations suspended in the wake of the natural disaster. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust - https://www.independent.co.uk/donationsSubscribe to Independent Premium for exclusive content \u0026 live events: https://bit.ly/2MiOONB Are Turkey flights and holidays cancelled after 7.8 earthquake? It is worth noting, though, that Turkish Airlines, the country's main airline, has canceled hundreds of flights over the last few days, and a few airports, including Turkey's Adana Sakirpasa Airport and Hatay Airport, are currently closed due to the earthquake's implications. One of the world's largest air travel hubs, it remains open and operating as normal following the earthquakes. The municipality of Istanbul conducted its own study estimating that 14,500 people will die if a magnitude 7.5 earthquake happens at night. Thousands of rescue workers leave Istanbul Airport for earthquake How Can I Help the Earthquake Victims in Turkey? Turkey's earthquake is a warning for Istanbul, which would face even more deaths from a quake | CBC News Loaded. That quake killed more than 17,000 people, including about 1,000 in Istanbul . Latest Earthquake Situation in Turkey: Information for Tourists Ukraine live briefing: Greta Thunberg slams wars ecocide; top Ukrainian general decries lack of weapons, Evidence mounts for use of banned mines by Ukrainian forces, rights group says, Canada stabbing suspect targeted gender studies class, police say. British travellers currently in Turkey near the site of the quakes have been urged to contact family and friends. The city of Gaziantep and its surrounding provinces were hardest hit by the initial earthquake. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? This year, Turkey is on track to be the fourth most-popular European destination for sun-seekers in summer. Then I see the news in #Turkey First day on my holidays and #earthquake? She later told followers she was staying in Larnaca, Cyprus. In a phone interview Tuesday evening, Seyda Yilmaz, the airport spokeswoman, said that the situation at the facility was under control and that 11 flights had been able to land, and one had departed, since noon on Tuesday when one of the runways was reopened. Turkey Earthquake: Earthquake's Death Toll Jumps to Over 4,300 in Plus, it requiresvery good planning and incentives that can run for several decades," Bal said. The second tremor was later felt in central Turkey. "It's very sad, and for me as an architect, seeing all those buildings collapsed and people under the rubble, it's especially it made me, actually, furious," he says. Erdogan has promised reconstruction will start as soon as the rubble is cleared away, and he aims to have the earthquake zone rebuilt within a year. (Error Code: 102006) 00:35 Holly Patrick | 4 months ago Thousands of rescue workers leave Istanbul Airport for. As Turkey's leaders promise a swift start to reconstruction efforts in the earthquake zone, attention is also turning to Istanbul and whether Turkey's largest city has done what it can to be ready for a major quake. After the deadly earthquakes of 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude that hit 10 provinces and affected millions of lives, search and rescue teams from different parts . These provinces are all located in the southeast of the country near the Syrian border. As a result, many tourists planning to travel to Istanbul may be concerned about the impact on their travels. February 20, 20235:02 AM ET Peter Kenyon Enlarge this image As Turkey's leaders promise a swift start to reconstruction efforts in the earthquake zone, attention is also turning to Istanbul . One of the city's most famous landmarks the ancient Gaziantep Castle has been severely damaged. 173.236.224.133 Ability to develop and coordinate GBV programs that target affected communities. At this time, US authorities have not told citizens to stay away from unaffected areas. While unaffected areas aren't necessarily at risk, it is important to keep this in mind as the earthquake's consequences and repercussions will likely be felt across the entire country for some time to come. Hugh Fraser, the founder of Turkey specialist Corinthian Travel, told The Independent: Southeastern Turkey and the area around Gaziantep have many spectacular attractions, and are noted for their regional cuisine, but has traditionally been the preserve of the second or third-time cultural visitors to Turkey. However, Turkeys Adana Airport has been closed until further notice, the Demiroren news agency reported. Are you on Telegram? Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. One concern for tourists or visitors to the area is aftershocks, which have been felt since the initial quake. The snowstorm was beyond the airports control, but it was their responsibility to manage this situation, he said. Chris McGrath/Getty Images The Independent has approached Turkeys tourism board for comment. This includes Gaziantep Oguzeli International Airport, which has closed to all air traffic other than jets involved in search and rescue or medical efforts. Robbie Williams says Dubai is ready to host a superstar residency - is he right? Istanbul Modern Reopens in its New, Renzo Piano-Designed Home Istanbul's airport, in fact, is still operating as normal. An update to the FCDOs Turkey page in the early hours of Monday reads: A 7.8 earthquake hit Gaziantep and neighbouring provinces in the south east of Turkey on 6 February 2023. The main shock, which was followed by numerous aftershocks, mainly affected approximately 10 Turkish provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Sanliurfa. The UK has said it will send 76 specialists, equipment and rescue dogs. Turkeys emergency authorities have since reported a second, 7.5 magnitude earthquake in a different southeast location at 1.24pm local time. Malaysia-operated Istanbul Airport contributes to earthquake relief (AA Photo) The Istanbul Airport operator IGA has dispatched . Under normal circumstances, no direct flights operate between the UK and Adana, which is 220km west of Gazientep, though it is served by domestic flights from tourism hubs Istanbul and Bodrum. In conclusion, travel to Istanbul is currently safe, but stay informed and check with your airline or tour provider for the latest updates. It advises all but essential travel to areas within 10km of the border with Syria. Today's Earthquakes in Istanbul, Turkey Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an international response to the crisis. Media reports have indicated that the earthquake has taken at least 912 lives in southern Turkey, with another 476 deaths recorded in Syria so far. Still, according to Bal, the majority of buildings that collapsed in this earthquake were ones built before the 2000 regulations came.