Erdoğan declares state of emergency in 10 quake-hit provinces

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Feb. 7 that they would declare a 3-month state of emergency in 10 provinces affected by the devastating earthquakes in southern Türkiye.

“We declare the 10 provinces hit by earthquakes to be a ‘Disaster Area Affecting General Life.’ By the power vested in us by Article 119 of the Constitution, we have decided to declare a state of emergency for search and rescue operations and the following efforts to be carried out rapidly,” Erdoğan said at a press conference in the State Information Coordination Center.

“The gravity of the earthquake disaster we have experienced makes it imperative for us to implement extraordinary measures,” he said.

They will quickly complete the Presidency and parliament processes regarding the decision, he stated.

“In addition to the units affiliated to our ministries, all our municipalities send aid to the region regardless of party,” Erdoğan stated.

A total of 53,317 search and rescue staff and support personnel currently are working in the earthquake zone so far, he said. Some 54,000 tents, 102,000 beds and other necessities have been sent to the region, he explained adding that nearly 1,000 ambulances, 241 UMKE teams and 5,000 medical personnel and two ambulance aircraft were dispatched to the region.

“In addition to thousands of its personnel, Turkish Armed Forces takes part in the works with all its facilities, including 10 ships and 54 cargo planes. Our Gendarmerie is on duty in the disaster area with its thousands of expert personnel, 26 cargo planes, and our Coast Guard Command with its ships and boats,” the president noted.

In the first place, the government allocated 100 billion Turkish Liras to the institutions for emergency aid and support activities, Erdoğan said.

The quake affected provinces of southern Kahramanmaraş, Adana, Adıyaman, Osmaniye, Hatay, Kilis and Malatya and southeastern Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, and Gaziantep, according to Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

Erdoğan invited citizens and businesspeople who wish to help heal the wounds of the quake to make donations via the bank accounts of the AFAD.

“We follow those who intend to set our people against each other with fake news and distortions. This is not the day of debate. When the day comes, we will open the notebook we keep,” Erdoğan said and added that the prosecutors identify those who attempt to “cause social chaos through inhumane methods and take necessary actions.”