Gone quiet · last update Feb 6, 2024 / Turkey
The February 2023 earthquakes in Turkey and Syria
Overview · reviewed October 31, 2026
On Feb. 6, 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake and multiple aftershocks struck southern Turkey and neighboring Syria, toppling thousands of buildings.[1][2] It became the deadliest earthquake in Turkey's modern history, and a year later the death toll across both countries stood at more than 59,000.[3][4] Turkey arrested and detained building contractors as anger grew over the weak construction of buildings that collapsed.[5][6]
It became the deadliest earthquake in Turkey's modern history, and a year later the death toll across both countries stood at more than 59,000.[3][4] Turkey arrested and detained building contractors as anger grew over the weak construction of buildings that collapsed.[5][6]
Coverage over time
LeftCenterRight
Weekly counts, outlets and reports (11 weeks with coverage)
| Week of (UTC) | Left | Center | Right | Of tracked | Share | Receipts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 5, 2024 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 4% | |
| Jan 29, 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | under 1% | |
| Aug 7, 2023 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2% | |
| Jul 31, 2023 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 4% | |
| Mar 20, 2023 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1% | |
| Mar 13, 2023 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3% | |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2% | |
| Feb 27, 2023 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 7% | |
| Feb 20, 2023 | 15 | 27 | 10 | 52 | 28% | |
| Feb 13, 2023 | 17 | 25 | 11 | 53 | 29% | |
| Feb 6, 2023 | 34 | 48 | 23 | 105 | 57% |
Latest coverage
Background
Rescue teams worked through bitter cold for days, sometimes pulling survivors from the rubble more than 100 hours after the quake,[7][8] while tens of thousands of people left homeless huddled around campfires and lined up for food.[9][10] In the northwest Syrian town of Jinderis, residents found a newborn whose mother had given birth while buried under a collapsed apartment building; the baby was later taken in by relatives.[11][12]
The United Nations' relief chief warned that the death toll could double,[13] and a magnitude 6.3 quake struck the same region two weeks later.[14] Secretary of State Antony Blinken toured the disaster zone,[15] and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey still intended to hold elections that May.[16]
Supporting stories (16)
- Rescuers Scramble in Turkey, Syria After Earthquakes Kill Over 3,700
- Death toll in Turkey, Syria earthquake surpasses 15,000
- Rising toll makes quake deadliest in Turkey's modern history
- A look at events surrounding the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria a year ago
- Turkey cracks down on building contractors as quake death toll reaches grim milestone
- Why the earthquake caused so much damage in Turkey, despite being long overdue
- 5 days in, survivors still found in quake-hit Turkey, Syria
- Rescuers find more alive in Turkey on 8th day after quake
- 19,300 dead after earthquake in Turkey, Syria; Survivors struggle to stay warm and fed
- Turkey earthquake survivors face despair, as rescues wane
- Newborn baby reportedly rescued from earthquake rubble in Syria
- Baby girl born under Syria earthquake rubble adopted by her aunt
- Turkey-Syria death toll passes 41,000 as UN appeals for quake aid
- New quake hits battered Turkey, Syria; 3 dead, hundreds hurt
- Blinken tours Turkey’s earthquake zone, pledges $100M in aid
- Turkey's Erdogan indicates May elections to go ahead despite quake
The full record
February 2024
August 2023
March 2023
February 2023
- Turkey's Erdogan indicates May elections to go ahead despite quake
- New quake hits Turkey, toppling more buildings: 1 killed
- Egypt's FM Shoukry visits Syria, Turkey in renewed earthquake diplomacy
- Turkey launches investigation into 612 people after quake
- Another earthquake hits Turkey-Syria border
- Baby girl born under Syria earthquake rubble adopted by her aunt
- Blinken tours Turkey’s earthquake zone, pledges $100M in aid
- U.N. appeals for $1 billion to help Turkey quake survivors
- New quake hits battered Turkey, Syria; 3 dead, hundreds hurt
- Rising toll makes quake deadliest in Turkey's modern history
- Gunmen storm hospital of newborn saved from quake in Syria
- Baby girl saved from rubble in quake-hit Syria in good health
- Turkey arrests building contractors 6 days after quakes
- Turkey rescuers save two people 13 days after quake
- Kurdish militants halt 'operations' after Turkey earthquake
- Turkey-Syria death toll passes 41,000 as UN appeals for quake aid
- Turkey earthquake survivors face despair, as rescues wane
- 19,300 dead after earthquake in Turkey, Syria; Survivors struggle to stay warm and fed
- Turkey cracks down on building contractors as quake death toll reaches grim milestone
- Twitter down in Turkey as quake response criticism mounts
- A look at the world's deadliest earthquakes in the past 25 years
- Newborn baby reportedly rescued from earthquake rubble in Syria
- Rescuers find more alive in Turkey on 8th day after quake
- At least 20 escape Syria prison holding IS inmates after quake
- 5 days in, survivors still found in quake-hit Turkey, Syria
- UNESCO sounds alarm over quake damage to Turkey, Syria heritage
- Turkey earthquake damages ancient Gaziantep Castle, dating back 2,000 years
- Powerful quake rocks Turkey and Syria, kills more than 2,300
- Death toll in Turkey, Syria earthquake surpasses 15,000
- Why the earthquake caused so much damage in Turkey, despite being long overdue
- Rescuers Scramble in Turkey, Syria After Earthquakes Kill Over 3,700
- How to Help Victims in Turkey and Syria After Deadly Earthquake
- Before and after satellite images bring earthquake destruction in Turkish towns into full view
- Misery of war-weary Syrians exacerbated by deadly earthquake
Coverage & sources
Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.