‘Disaster of the Century’

After a catastrophic earthquake struck southern Türkiye (Turkey) and northwestern Syria, 17-year-old Yazam Mousa returned repeatedly to the collapsed four-story building where he used to live to dig through the rubble.

“At 5 a.m., after the earthquake, we pulled out everyone, people who were alive and people who were dead,” he says. “Those who died, may God rest their soul. And those who are injured, may God heal them.”

Yazam, who lives in Syria, was one of many survivors who sprang into action to help save their neighbors. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck on February 6, killing tens of thousands of people, injuring more than 100,000, and leaving millions in both countries homeless. The exact death toll—which stood at more than 50,000 on March 1—could take months to determine, aid agencies say, because of the extent of the damage and because Syria’s civil war prevented the kind of large-scale rescue operations that took place in Türkiye after the quake.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Türkiye called the earthquake “the disaster of the century.”

On February 6, a violent earthquake struck southern Türkiye (Turkey) and northwestern Syria. The quake caused the four-story building where 17-year-old Yazam Mousa once lived to collapse. Yazam repeatedly returned to the building to dig through the rubble.

“At 5 a.m., after the earthquake, we pulled out everyone, people who were alive and people who were dead,” he says. “Those who died, may God rest their soul. And those who are injured, may God heal them.”

Yazam lives in Syria. He was one of many survivors who sprang into action to help save their neighbors. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed tens of thousands of people. More than 100,000 others were injured, and millions in both countries were left homeless.

On March 1, the death toll stood at more than 50,000. Aid agencies say that it could take months to determine the exact death toll because of the extent of the damage. Syria’s civil war has also made assessing the earthquake’s impact harder. That’s because the kind of large-scale rescue efforts that took place in Türkiye after the quake didn’t occur in Syria.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Türkiye called the earthquake “the disaster of the century.”

Weeks after the earthquake, people were still removing rubble to search for victims. They were also combing through the debris of what used to be their homes, looking for identity papers, property deeds, personal photos, and other precious belongings—anything they could possibly salvage.

“The scale of the disaster is enormous,” says James Denselow of the international aid group Save the Children. “We’re talking about tens of millions of people affected.”

Weeks after the earthquake, people were still removing rubble to search for victims. They were also combing through the debris of what used to be their homes. They spent the time looking for anything they could recover. That included identity papers, property deeds, personal photos, and other precious belongings.

“The scale of the disaster is enormous,” says James Denselow of the international aid group Save the Children. “We’re talking about tens of millions of people affected.”

The situation in Syria, which had already been devastated by 12 years of civil war, was particularly catastrophic. The war has massively damaged Syria’s infrastructure and displaced millions of people. And to make matters more complicated, Syria’s autocratic president, Bashar al-Assad, is an international pariah, and parts of the country are controlled by different factions. That’s made it particularly hard to get international aid into Syria.

“Anywhere else in the world, this would be an emergency,” says Mark Kaye, a spokesman for the International Rescue Committee. “What we have in Syria is an emergency within an emergency.”

The conflict in Syria has prompted 3.6 million Syrians to flee into neighboring Türkiye, which is currently home to more refugees than anywhere else in the world, according to the United Nations (U.N.). Many of those refugees, who were already suffering from massive upheaval, have now lost their homes all over again.

The situation in Syria was particularly tragic. The country had already been hit hard by 12 years of civil war. The war has massively damaged Syria’s infrastructure and displaced millions of people. Syria’s autocratic president, Bashar al-Assad, is an international outcast. Also, parts of the country are controlled by different groups. Both things have made it more difficult to get international aid to Syria.

“Anywhere else in the world, this would be an emergency,” says Mark Kaye, a spokesman for the International Rescue Committee. “What we have in Syria is an emergency within an emergency.”

The conflict in Syria has caused 3.6 million Syrians to flee into neighboring Türkiye. The neighboring country is currently home to more refugees than anywhere else in the world, according to the United Nations (U.N.). Many of those refugees were already suffering. Now, they have lost their homes all over again.

In Türkiye, there’s a growing sense that the earthquake didn’t have to be this deadly. More than 100,000 buildings collapsed or sustained heavy damage, according to the Turkish government. Experts say that poor construction had a lot to do with that. Both Japan and Chile often experience severe earthquakes, but stringent enforcement of earthquake-appropriate building codes has made these disasters much less deadly in recent years.

The Turkish government put stricter building codes in place after a similar disaster in northwestern Türkiye in 1999 killed more than 17,000 people. But residents say lack of enforcement allowed contractors to ignore the codes and build more cheaply. And in 2018, an amnesty law allowed developers to pay a fine to legalize buildings that violated the codes.

“While this is a natural disaster, it, in many ways, is a human-made disaster too,” says Mark Smith, director of humanitarian emergencies for World Vision, an aid organization.

In Türkiye, there’s a growing sense that the earthquake didn’t have to be this deadly. More than 100,000 buildings collapsed or were badly damaged, according to the Turkish government. Experts say poor construction had a lot to do with that. Both Japan and Chile are often hit by severe earthquakes. But both countries enforce strict building codes related to earthquakes. As a result, the quakes they’ve experienced in recent years have been much less deadly.

The Turkish government also has strict building codes. They were put in place after a similar disaster in northwestern Türkiye in 1999 killed more than 17,000 people. But residents say lack of enforcement allowed contractors to ignore the codes and build more cheaply. And in 2018, an amnesty law allowed developers to pay a fine to legalize buildings that violated the codes.

“While this is a natural disaster, it, in many ways, is a human-made disaster too,” says Mark Smith, director of humanitarian emergencies for World Vision, an aid organization.

Aid groups say recovery from a disaster of this scale will likely take years, and there are a lot of ways for people to help (see “How You Can Help” below). Millions of people will need new homes, for example. But there are additional concerns when it comes to the many children who’ve survived the initial catastrophe.

“There are multiple levels of impact on children,” says Smith. “Many children, especially those who’ve lost a parent or a caregiver, are experiencing trauma. There’s the inability to go to school because so many schools have been damaged or destroyed. And there’s the risk of children being exploited.”

Children are also in danger of being forced by the circumstances to leave school and work to support their families, and girls are at heightened risk of marrying very young.

The U.N. is trying to raise $1 billion to provide aid for the 5.2 million earthquake victims with the most acute needs.

“We must stand with them in their darkest hour,” says Martin Griffiths, the U.N.’s Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, “and ensure they receive the support they need.”

Aid groups say recovery from a disaster of this scale will likely take years. They also note that there are a lot of ways for people to help (see “How You Can Help” below). For example, millions of people will need new homes. But there are more concerns when it comes to the many children who’ve survived the initial disaster.

“There are multiple levels of impact on children,” says Smith. “Many children, especially those who’ve lost a parent or a caregiver, are experiencing trauma. There’s the inability to go to school because so many schools have been damaged or destroyed. And there’s the risk of children being exploited.”

Children are also in danger of being forced to leave school and work to support their families. And girls are at higher risk of marrying very young.

The U.N. is trying to raise $1 billion to provide aid for the 5.2 million earthquake victims with the most urgent needs.

“We must stand with them in their darkest hour,” says Martin Griffiths, the U.N.’s Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, “and ensure they receive the support they need.”