International Desk

A runway of Hatay Airport in southern Türkiye split in half after a major 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Türkiye's southeast province Monday morning.

Flights were immediately halted after the earthquake severely damaged the airport.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) in the Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaraş at 4:17 a.m. (1:17 a.m. GMT) time, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency Earthquake Department (AFAD) was felt in many cities across Türkiye.

Civil flights to Kahramanmaraş and Gaziantep Airports were suspended after the earthquake so that planes carrying search and rescue teams and relief supplies could reach the region.

Only planes carrying aid and search and rescue teams are allowed to land and take off from the two airports. On the other hand, Hatay Airport, whose runway was damaged due to the earthquake, was closed to all flights.

Search and rescue efforts continue in Hatay, where many buildings were damaged due to the 7.7 magnitude earthquake, the epicenter of which is in the Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaraş and affecting 10 provinces.

AFAD, UMKE, 112 Emergency Health, police, gendarmerie and fire brigade teams were dispatched to the city center and districts to carry out search and rescue work.

In Iskenderun, a part of the State Hospital, the Catholic Church, Mithatpaşa Primary School and many buildings were destroyed. It was learned that some of the damaged roads in the district were also closed to transportation.

Teams continue their search and rescue efforts in Kazım Karabekir and Şaban Akın Uçar Street in Numune Evler District in Dörtyol district.

Source: Daily Sabah