at least 3,600 people died, the number of victims continues to rise rapidly

The dead are in Adiyaman, Diyarbakır, Kahramanmaraş, Malatya, Osmaniye, Şanlıurfa and several other provinces.

Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep and Hatay airports are closed for civil flights.

Gaziantep Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was damaged.

The victims are in the provinces of Aleppo, Hama, Latakia and Tartus, as well as in rebel-held areas.

As the earthquake struck at night when people were at home and asleep, the death toll is expected to be even higher.

A resident of Gaziantep, Erdem, admitted in a telephone conversation with the “Reuters” agency that he had never experienced such a strong earthquake in his 40-year life.

He also said that many residents of the city went by car to more open places where there are no buildings. Worried about aftershocks, people elsewhere in the earthquake-hit region are also acting similarly.

The earthquake was also felt in Lebanon, Israel, Egypt and Cyprus. The Danish Geological Institute reports that the strongest earthquake was felt even in Greenland.

Turkey has officially asked NATO allies for help in dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake.

Ankara has asked its allies to send medical teams and medical equipment, rescue teams and fully equipped rural hospitals to Turkey, NATO has revealed.

Moldova has offered a rescue and search team that needs help getting to the earthquake-hit area, NATO has revealed.

NATO assistance is coordinated by the Alliance Coordination Center.

The European Union, NATO, Greece, Israel, the Netherlands, Serbia, Germany, Sweden and other countries have also promised to help Turkey in rescue operations. Ukraine has also offered help to Turkey.

Earthquakes are not uncommon in Turkey, but this is one of the largest in the country’s history.

Rescue operations in Turkey have been hampered by snowfall, which has iced roads, and the earthquake has closed the region’s three largest airports, further complicating the delivery of aid.

Turkey. Earthquake.🤔 pic.twitter.com/wWAlC3h6Af

— Alexander (@avaza1972) February 6, 2023