Türkiye / Syria Earthquake - Survivors Stories

by Lewis Inman

© Todd Antony 

On February 6th 2023, a devastating earthquake hit Southern Turkey & Syria, resulting in the deaths of over 46,000 people and leaving over 1.9 million people in need of temporary shelter and aid. 

Shortly after, I (Lewis Inman) flew to Turkey to photograph and obtain needs assessments with UK Charity (RE:ACT Disaster response), working alongside local government and other international NGOs.

The earthquake that struck Turkey resulted in the collapse or severe damage of over 160,000 buildings, including approximately 520,000 apartments. The scale of destruction is immense, and the impact of this disaster will be felt for a long time to come as the affected communities work to rebuild their lives and homes.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) reported that the death toll from the earthquake had risen to 45,089 in Turkey alone. Combined with the number of casualties in Syria, the total toll amounts to approximately 51,000. In addition to the high fatalities, the earthquake also caused severe injuries to over 108,000 people in Turkey, with many left without shelter and seeking refuge in tents or trying to relocate to other cities. Furthermore, the powerful tremors that followed the initial earthquake only compounded the damage and devastation, leaving behind a trail of destruction and heartbreak in its wake.

There was an additional earthquake (6.4 Magnitude) while I was there. It was a challenging environment, but I could use my skills and previous experience to help tell the stories of the survivors and help find out their immediate needs.

Link to photographs https://lewisinman.com/portfolio/turkey-syria-earthquake/

My website https://lewisinman.com

Instagram @Lewisinman_

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