LBCI

Erdogan declares state of emergency for Turkey quake zone

Middle East

07-02-2023 | 08:58

Share

Share

Erdogan declares state of emergency for Turkey quake zone

2^min

President Tayyip Erdogan declared on Tuesday a three-month state of emergency covering Turkey's 10 southern provinces hit by devastating earthquakes, and called it a disaster zone in a move meant to bolster rescue efforts.

The move came as the death toll from Monday's two major earthquakes, which hit a wide area of Turkey and Syria, exceeded 5,000 and as rescuers raced against time to dig people out of the rubble of collapsed buildings.

Declaring a state of emergency permits the president and cabinet to bypass parliament in enacting new laws and to limit or suspend rights and freedoms as they deem necessary.

"We have decided to declare a state of emergency to ensure that operations are carried out rapidly," Erdogan said in his second speech since the first quake hit early on Monday.

He said the state of emergency would last three months - meaning it would end shortly before presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled on May 14. It could also be extended.

Erdogan previously declared a nationwide state of emergency in July 2016 in the wake of a failed military coup.

Erdogan also said that 70 countries had offered help in search and rescue operations and that Turkey planned to open up hotels in the tourism hub of Antalya, to the west, to temporarily house people impacted by the quakes.

He said the death toll in Turkey had risen to 3,549 people.

Breaking Headlines

Erdogan

Declares

State

Emergency

After

Quake

Earthquake

Turkey

Syria

Zone

Magnitude

Subscribe to our VOD

SUBSCRIBE

Our visitors readings

Iran prepared for 'fair' talks with US but not on defense capabilities: Araghchi

Middle East News

2026-01-30

Iran prepared for 'fair' talks with US but not on defense capabilities: Araghchi

Trump will say more on Taiwan 'in the coming days': Bessent to CNBC

2026-05-14

Trump will say more on Taiwan 'in the coming days': Bessent to CNBC

EU seeks diplomatic solution for Hormuz Strait: Kallas

Middle East News

2026-03-17

EU seeks diplomatic solution for Hormuz Strait: Kallas

Iranian Revolutionary Guard: Response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon will be “painful and regrettable”

2026-04-08

Iranian Revolutionary Guard: Response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon will be “painful and regrettable”

Videos

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

2026-08-06

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

2026-07-24

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

2026-07-20

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

2026-06-26

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

2026-06-26

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

2026-06-26

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

2026-06-20

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

2026-06-19

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

2026-06-16

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

Most read

24 hours

7 days

Month

Rain in August? Sudden weather shift surprises Lebanon: Video

1

Rain in August? Sudden weather shift surprises Lebanon: Video

Walla: Israeli military strikes Ali al-Taher heights in southern Lebanon

2

Walla: Israeli military strikes Ali al-Taher heights in southern Lebanon

Wanted for war crimes: Why was retired Syrian Gen. Adel Issa detained in Beirut?

3

Wanted for war crimes: Why was retired Syrian Gen. Adel Issa detained in Beirut?

Diplomacy vs. escalation: Southern Lebanon enters a critical new phase

4

Diplomacy vs. escalation: Southern Lebanon enters a critical new phase

Health Ministry: Seven killed, including three children and two women, in Israeli strike on Ansar

5

Health Ministry: Seven killed, including three children and two women, in Israeli strike on Ansar

Six killed, two injured in airstrike in southern Lebanon as displacement reported in Nabatieh

6

Six killed, two injured in airstrike in southern Lebanon as displacement reported in Nabatieh

Waste crisis or new tax? Lebanon’s environmental fee raises questions

7

Waste crisis or new tax? Lebanon’s environmental fee raises questions

Speaker Berri: Israel disregards agreements as attacks in southern Lebanon continue

8

Speaker Berri: Israel disregards agreements as attacks in southern Lebanon continue

Download now the LBCI mobile app

To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world

Google Play

App Store

Download now the LBCI mobile app

We use
cookies

We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.

Accept

Learn More