Over a month ago, south-eastern Turkey and north-western Syria were devastated by the largest globally recorded earthquake since August 2021. In the early morning on February 6, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck its epicenter of the Kahramanmaraş province, and the quake could be felt through Central and South Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. The initial earthquake was shortly followed by aftershocks of 6.7 magnitudes and 7.5 magnitudes around 95 km north of the original epicenter. 

Weeks later, aftershocks are still occurring, as the tectonic plates continue to shift and settle. More than 100 aftershocks have occurred since the 6th. One of the most recent series of aftershocks happened in the district of Hatay (south of the initial quake) on February 20, with magnitudes up to 6.4 and 5.8, and 31 less severe tremors. Aftershocks are typically the strongest 48 hours after the “initial earthquake”, however, tremors can continue for up to weeks or years afterward. In Turkey and Syria, the aftershocks are gradually decreasing in occurrence and magnitude, nevertheless, there is still a greater risk because buildings are already weakened or destroyed, making infrastructure especially vulnerable. The issue is currently being addressed by teams of specialists who are marking the buildings that are safe to enter and return to. 

Current statistics indicate that at least 45,000 are dead in Turkey and there are still thousands of victims yet to be found and identified underneath the remaining rubble, therefore the death toll is presumably higher. More than 7,000 buildings were destroyed, and it is estimated that there’s approximately 50 billion USD in property damage. The initial earthquake was the most deadly of the quakes because the initial earthquake hit around 4 a.m. while many residents were still asleep and unaware of the circumstances. Additionally, there hasn’t been a significant earthquake in the region for centuries and the infrastructure is unreliable, thus Turkey was not prepared. Consequently, upwards of 2 million of Turkey’s population have been displaced, and are sleeping in cars, tents, and government buildings. There are shortages of food, as supermarkets were destroyed or emptied already. Additionally, it’s winter and colder than normal, and displaced individuals are freezing due to a lack of resources. In Northern Syria, because of the already existing war and humanitarian crisis, Syrians were already reliant on humanitarian aid; but with the earthquake, aid is stretched thinner. Medical relief in both countries is limited; due to the number of injuries and because numerous hospitals and medical facilities were destroyed in the earthquakes. The international community sent hundreds of rescue teams and has given financial aid to Turkey and Syria. The United States pledged $100 million in aid and declared that it will help rebuild “for as long as it takes”. Global organizations, such as the World Bank agreed to aid in recovery and reconstruction by providing support of $1.78 billion.

The priority for the first two weeks after February 6 was rescuing those trapped under the rubble of destroyed and damaged buildings. In search-and-rescue, time is of the essence, and the first 24 hours are vital because after 48 hours the chances of survivors greatly decrease. Thousands of people were trapped under buildings, and rescue teams were limited in numbers and had to work around the damage along with further aftershocks. Now that weeks have passed since the initial quake, a majority of rescue teams have long since stopped searching for survivors in the rubble. While some teams are still searching for bodies, many of the teams that traveled to assist have left Turkey country. With time, priorities have shifted, and Turkey is focused on rebuilding the homes of millions that were destroyed by the quakes. The Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation “put the cost of repairing homes, businesses, and infrastructure in Turkey alone at $70.8 billion”, and the President of Turkey, Tayyip Erdogan, has pledged to finish the reconstruction of buildings and homes destroyed within a year. Only 3 weeks after the initial earthquake, Erdogan ordered the building of new apartment units and construction has already started. However, there’s public concern about safety issues that come with the building already and questions about the stability of the area; as currently, 10 of Turkey’s provinces have declared a state of emergency for the next three months. 

The Turkish government has received mass criticism because of inadequate government response or lack of any real response. After the initial quake, citizens were left to fend for themselves for days, without military forces or government rescue teams, it was even impossible to contact the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) successfully. Afterward, the Turkish government responded that there was no way the government could have prepared for the quake, but they claim they are catching up now. 

A brief history of the Turkish government is necessary to understand the extent of corruption facing the country. Tayyip Erdogan (the country’s current president), was elected as prime minister in March 2003 and he began to bring stability to Turkey. Erdogan became increasingly more autocratic and after an attempted coop in 2017, Turkey transferred to the presidential system 2017. Nevertheless, elections in Turkey are free but not fair; and Erdogan’s popularity has been decreasing, especially with an upcoming presidential election in May, and it seems that Erdogan’s only opposition recently was conveniently imprisoned. 

Prior to the earthquake Turkey already faced rampant corruption, furthermore, there are two elements of corruption relating to the earthquakes. Firstly, Erdogan’s direct involvement in the magnitude of the devastation. While the government’s corruption could not have caused the earthquake, the corruption only amplified the destruction. After a catastrophic earthquake in the northwest region of Turkey in 1999, Turkey experienced a similar aftermath. When Erdogan was first elected as Prime Minister, he accredited the size of the catastrophe to corruption, and he swore to rebuild the country with better infrastructure free from previous corruption. However, throughout his presidency, Erdogan has granted special permissions and overlooked building regulations for his circle of “cronies”. It’s clearly demonstrated when analyzing the wreckage, as the buildings that were built by Erdogan’s circle and approved by Erdogan, didn’t meet the earthquake building standards and consequently, suffered the most damage. Secondly, the Turkish government has demonstrated corruption within its earthquake response. The Turkish media regulator has fined news broadcasters that accurately showed the devastation from the quakes and the failings of the government’s response. Additionally, the Turkish Red Cresent (the largest humanitarian aid organization in Turkey) was found to be selling tents to another Turkish charity, instead of freely distributing them to victims after the initial quake. While the Red Cresent is not directly government-affiliated, it is under strict government control, exempt from some state taxes, and some officials have been nominated by the government. 

The long-term impacts of the earthquake remain relatively unclear thus far. In terms of public health, the World Health Organization has warned of potential long-term health issues, and an increase in “respiratory and waterborne infections.” In terms of Turkey’s economy, Turkish inflation is already 64% because of policies from Erdogan, and Turkey was already facing financial and economic crises because of the cost of living rising. The earthquake destroyed the industrial region of Kahramanmaras and Gaziantep, so production factories have been damaged. According to a report by the Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation, “the earthquakes have caused an estimated $84 billion in losses, the equivalent of about 10% of Turkey’s entire economy in 2022.” 

After a month since the initial earthquake, Turkey is still sorting through the political and economic rubble that the earthquake caused in its destruction. Thus far, it’s unclear if the country will be able to repair and recover the losses caused by the earthquake in a safe and time-efficient manner. With Erdogan facing reelection this upcoming summer, his political fate remains uncertain, nevertheless, it is undeniable the severity of the consequences is due to President Erdogan and his government. However, it seems as if Erdogan’s government built on corruption is also beginning to crumble.