2023 Southeastern Anatolia

On February 6, 2023, Türkiye experienced the most devastating earthquakes in its history, as two powerful tremors, measuring 7.8 Mw and 7.5 Mw respectively, struck the Pazarcık and Elbistan districts of Kahramanmaraş, affecting the entire Southeastern Anatolia region across 11 provinces.

Cumhuriyet newspaper referred to the tragedy as "The Catastrophe of the Century" in its February 7 headline, expressing profound grief with statements like "We mourn our losses," and critically examining years of insufficient disaster preparedness. Initially, the reported death toll was 2,316, but it rose substantially as the magnitude of destruction became increasingly evident. Official reports confirmed at least 53,537 fatalities in Türkiye and an additional 8,476 deaths in Syria.

Aerial photographs vividly depicted the extensive devastation, especially highlighting the collapse of recently built luxury apartment complexes. The striking images and harrowing accounts of human suffering became permanently embedded in the nation’s collective memory. Scenes of mass graves, mourning families carrying loved ones' remains in garbage bags, and desperate cries for rescue demonstrated the profound tragedy.

Date: February 6, 2023

Magnitude: 7.8 Mw; 7.5 Mw

Fatalities (official figures): 53.537

Damaged Buildings (official figures): 280,000 (varies in different resources)