The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Is it safe to travel to Turkey after the earthquake?

2023-02-09T01:26:27.797Z


The devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday has claimed the lives of more than 11,000 people and injured tens of thousands. How did the earthquake affect flights and what is the advice for travelers?


Before and after the earthquake in Turkey seen from the sky 1:04

(CNN) --

The devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday has killed more than 11,000 people and injured tens of thousands.


The 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck near the southeastern Turkish city of Gaziantep, near the Syrian border, at around 4:17 a.m. local time.

Several aftershocks followed.

  • The magnitude of the earthquake in Turkey was shocking, says Mexican who survived the natural disaster

As a result, thousands of buildings collapsed and survivors are still being pulled from the rubble.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the death toll could rise to 20,000.

"I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and the devastating humanitarian toll caused by the earthquakes that have shaken Turkey and Syria," US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Tuesday.

"While humanitarian agencies work to respond, the United States stands ready to provide aid to those affected by the disaster," he added.

US travelers have been advised to "avoid travel to earthquake-affected areas", while the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) urges citizens to "avoid the immediate vicinity "of the incident.

advertising

However, many of those who were to visit Turkey imminently wonder if it is safe to travel to the country now.

This is what we know so far:

What areas were affected by the earthquake?

View of Gaziantep Castle in Turkey, which was damaged by the devastating earthquake on February 6, 2023. Credit: Mehmet Akif Parlak/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

About 10 provinces of Turkey were affected by the earthquake, one of the strongest to hit the Middle East in more than a century: Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a state of emergency in the affected provinces for three months.

"We have decided to declare a state of emergency to ensure that the operations are carried out quickly," Erdogan declared on Tuesday.

"We are facing one of the biggest disasters not only in the history of the Turkish republic, but also in our geography and in the world."

  • Hope after tragedy: the emotional rescues of survivors after the earthquake in Turkey and Syria

The ancient castle of Gaziantep, one of the best-known monuments of the Turkish city, was badly damaged by the earthquake.

"Some of the bastions on the eastern, southern and southeastern parts of the historic Gaziantep castle in the central Şahinbey district were destroyed by the earthquake, rubble was scattered along the road," Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The city of Aleppo, ravaged by 11 years of civil war, is among the most affected areas in northwestern Syria, where more than four million people already depend on humanitarian aid.

Are flights to Turkey cancelled?

At the time of writing this report, international airlines were still operating flights to and from Turkey.

However, Turkish Airlines, the renowned national carrier of Turkey, has canceled hundreds of flights in recent days.

Adana airport is closed until further notice, according to the Turkish news agency Demirören News Agency, while the nearby Hatay airport is also closed due to a damaged runway.

Gaziantep Oguzeli International Airport is also closed to air traffic.

Istanbul Airport, Turkey's main international airport, is operating normally.

Travelers planning to fly into one of the affected airports should contact the airline for the latest information.

  • The reasons why the earthquake in Turkey was so strong

How will it affect tourists?

Gaziantep is a relatively far distance from some of the country's major tourist hubs, such as Antalya, around 594 kilometers by plane, and Istanbul, around 850 kilometers, so those heading to these destinations are unlikely to find severely affected.

However, the possibility of further aftershocks remains worrying.

According to the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, the tremors were felt as far as Greenland.

"The large earthquakes in Turkey were clearly recorded on seismographs in Denmark and Greenland," seismologist Tine Larsen told AFP.

Meanwhile, tourist Julia Miernik, who tweeted that she was vacationing in Larnaka, Cyprus, shared on the platform that her hotel was "floating."

"The bed is shaking on the floor and everyone is screaming," he posted on Twitter on Monday.

"So I watch the news in #Turkey first day of my vacation and #earthquake?"

CNN has contacted several airlines and holiday operators serving Turkey to clarify whether cancellations are likely as a result of the earthquake.

What is the current advice for US travelers?

US travelers planning to travel to Turkey in the coming days and weeks have been advised to avoid earthquake-affected areas.

A statement issued by the US embassy on Monday warned that "large magnitude aftershocks continue and are likely for the next few days."

earthquaketurkey

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2023-02-09

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.