On February 7, 2023, black smoke still billows from Iskenderun Port in Turkey. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake the day before and the subsequent 7.5-magnitude aftershock caused the pier to collapse and catch fire. (Handout / DHA (Demiroren News Agency) / AFP)
[The Epoch Times, February 07, 2023](Comprehensive report by Epoch Times reporter Li Yan) On Monday (February 6), an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 occurred in southern Turkey near the northern border with Syria, followed by an aftershock of magnitude 7.5. The two quakes killed more than 7,266 people and caused widespread damage. The Port of Iskenderun in Turkey collapsed and caught fire.
On February 7, 2023, black smoke still billows from Iskenderun Port in Turkey. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake the day before and the subsequent 7.5-magnitude aftershock caused the pier to collapse and catch fire. (Handout / DHA (Demiroren News Agency) / AFP)
The seismic event, which occurred near the East Anatolia Fault where Turkey is located, severely affected logistics and transport infrastructure in the region. A fire broke out in the port of Iskenderun in Turkey, causing a complete shutdown of all operations.
On February 7, 2023, rescuers worked at the site of the earthquake in Turkey, and black smoke was still rising from Iskenderun Port. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake the day before and the subsequent 7.5-magnitude aftershock caused the pier to collapse and catch fire. (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
“While assessing the damage to our coastal installations, it was determined that the pier at Iskenderun Port has collapsed,” said the director-general of Turkey’s transport ministry.
On February 7, 2023, rescuers worked at the site of the earthquake in Turkey, and black smoke was still rising from Iskenderun Port. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake the day before and the subsequent 7.5-magnitude aftershock caused the pier to collapse and catch fire. (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
The Turkish Maritime Authority announced on Twitter that inspections were carried out at all ports except Iskenderun following the quake.
On February 7, 2023, rescuers worked at the site of the earthquake in Turkey, and black smoke was still rising from Iskenderun Port. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake the day before and the subsequent 7.5-magnitude aftershock caused the pier to collapse and catch fire. (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Port Technology, an international shipping technologynews outlet, reported that roads in the area have also been severely affected and trucking is currently out of the question. Given this situation, shipping lines are planning to transfer containers to nearby hubs, or hold them up at transshipment ports, as far as operationally feasible.
On February 7, 2023, rescuers worked at the site of the earthquake in Turkey, and black smoke was still rising from Iskenderun Port. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake the day before and the subsequent 7.5-magnitude aftershock caused the pier to collapse and catch fire. (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Maersk will redest all bookings to Iskenderun port or already on water.
On February 7, 2023, rescuers worked at the site of the earthquake in Turkey, and black smoke was still rising from Iskenderun Port. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake the day before and the subsequent 7.5-magnitude aftershock caused the pier to collapse and catch fire. (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
Maersk plans to move the containers to nearby viable hubs, or hold them up at transshipment ports, including the Port of Mersin and Port Said.
On February 7, 2023, rescuers worked at the site of the earthquake in Turkey, and black smoke was still rising from Iskenderun Port. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake the day before and the subsequent 7.5-magnitude aftershock caused the pier to collapse and catch fire. (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
In response to the impact of the earthquake, Maersk said that all bookings in Iskenderun and Mersin in February can be canceled, modified and changed destinations free of charge.
On February 7, 2023, rescuers worked at the site of the earthquake in Turkey, and black smoke was still rising from Iskenderun Port. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake the day before and the subsequent 7.5-magnitude aftershock caused the pier to collapse and catch fire. (Burak Kara/Getty Images)
It is unclear when the Iskenderun port will be able to resume normal operations.
So far, there have been hundreds of aftershocks from the earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria.
Syrians search for victims and survivors under the rubble of collapsed buildings in the rebel-held town of Jindayris, February 7, 2023. The massive Turkey-Syria earthquake a day earlier killed more than 5,000 people. (Aaref Watad/AFP via Getty Images)
Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca told a news conference on Tuesday that the death toll in Turkey was now 5,434, while the total number of deaths in Syria reached at least 1,832.
