At least 14,351 people were killed and 63,794 others injured by two strong earthquakes that jolted southern Türkiye on Monday, the country's Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Thursday, El.kz cites Anadolu.
The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes, centered in the Kahramanmaras province, were felt by 13 million people across 10 provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Sanliurfa.
Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, felt strong tremors that struck Türkiye in the space of less than 10 hours.
"The earthquake affected an area of approximately 110,000 square kilometers (about 42,470 sq miles). This is equal to or greater than the area of many countries in Europe.
"This earthquake is the third-largest to occur since the 1668 Great Anatolia earthquake and the 1939 Erzincan earthquake in the last 2,000 years on the Anatolian geography," Oktay said at the country's parliament.
During a visit to the southern Gaziantep province, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "Our state has been on the field with all its institutions starting from the moment of the earthquake."
More than 113,200 search and rescue personnel are currently working in the field, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).
A total of 28,044 people were evacuated from quake-hit regions, AFAD said in a statement.
"As of 11.38 a.m. (0838GMT), a total of 28,044 citizens were evacuated from the disaster area, 4,607 by road and railway and 23,437 by air," it said.
Evacuees are being placed in accommodation areas and guesthouses designated by provincial governors' offices and AFAD, it added.