UAE

A Closer Look: Why was the Turkey-Syria earthquake so deadly - and what happens next?

The National hears from reporter Nada Maucourant Atallah on the ground in Turkey and looks at the timeline of what has happened so far

The National

February 09, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

A Closer Look is The National's show where we take an in-depth look at one of the main stories of the week.

More than 17,000 people have died in Turkey and Syria and tens of thousands have been injured since the earthquake that struck in the early hours of Monday in Gaziantep.

It is the world's worst earthquake since a 9.1-magnitude tremor and tsunami struck Japan and South-East Asia in March 2011, killing about 20,000.

We hear from Nada MaucourantAtallah who is in Turkey, and host Sarah Forster speaks to foreign news editor James Haines-Young about how this tragedy has unfolded so far.

We hear from Nada Maucourant Atallah who is in Turkey, and host Sarah Forster speaks to foreign news editor James Haines-Young about how this tragedy has unfolded so far.

Read more

Turkey and Syria earthquake live blog

UAE team rescue Syrian family trapped under Turkey earthquake rubble

Efforts following earthquake in Turkey and Syria continue: in pictures

The brother of a survivor Gokhan Ugurlu, 35, who was pulled out of the rubble in Hatay, Turkey, reacts as a rescuer looks on. Reuters
The brother of a survivor Gokhan Ugurlu, 35, who was pulled out of the rubble in Hatay, Turkey, reacts as a rescuer looks on. Reuters
A woman walks past flattened buildings in a street in Hatay province, Turkey. Reuters
A woman walks past flattened buildings in a street in Hatay province, Turkey. Reuters
A member of the army stands amid rubble in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Reuters
A member of the army stands amid rubble in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Reuters
A man reacts while sitting outside a tent of a temporary accommodation centre set up on a football pitch in Gaziantep, Turkey. Reuters
A man reacts while sitting outside a tent of a temporary accommodation centre set up on a football pitch in Gaziantep, Turkey. Reuters
Earthquake survivors walk on a street in Hatay, Turkey. Reuters
Earthquake survivors walk on a street in Hatay, Turkey. Reuters
A White Helmets volunteer holds a rescued cat in the rebel-held town of Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
A White Helmets volunteer holds a rescued cat in the rebel-held town of Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
A Syrian boy, who lost his family in the deadly earthquake, stands amid the rubble of his family home in Jindayris. AFP
A Syrian boy, who lost his family in the deadly earthquake, stands amid the rubble of his family home in Jindayris. AFP
Rescuers sit by a bonfire in Hatay, Turkey. AFP
Rescuers sit by a bonfire in Hatay, Turkey. AFP
A Turkish soldier walks among destroyed buildings in Hatay. AFP
A Turkish soldier walks among destroyed buildings in Hatay. AFP
Relatives of Palestinian doctor Yusuf Darabeh, who died when the earthquake hit Turkey, comfort each other. AP Photo
Relatives of Palestinian doctor Yusuf Darabeh, who died when the earthquake hit Turkey, comfort each other. AP Photo
People stand by a collapsed building in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey. AP Photo
People stand by a collapsed building in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey. AP Photo
A child, injured in the earthquake, is treated at hospital in Bab Al Hawah, Syria. AP Photo
A child, injured in the earthquake, is treated at hospital in Bab Al Hawah, Syria. AP Photo
Vehicles containing aid from Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) on the Iraqi side of the Iraq-Syria border. Reuters
Vehicles containing aid from Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) on the Iraqi side of the Iraq-Syria border. Reuters
Rescuers carry Muhammed Alkanaas, 12, to an ambulance after five days under the rubble in Antakya, Turkey. AP
Rescuers carry Muhammed Alkanaas, 12, to an ambulance after five days under the rubble in Antakya, Turkey. AP
Romanian firefighters load a Turkey-bound train with emergency aid near Bucharest. AP
Romanian firefighters load a Turkey-bound train with emergency aid near Bucharest. AP
Collapsed buildings in Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
Collapsed buildings in Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
Abdulkerim Nano, 67, is rescued after five days under the rubble in in Kahramanmaras, Turkey
Abdulkerim Nano, 67, is rescued after five days under the rubble in in Kahramanmaras, Turkey
A Turkish rescue worker checks a collapsed building in Adiyaman. AP
A Turkish rescue worker checks a collapsed building in Adiyaman. AP
Rescuers in Adiyaman, Turkey. AP
Rescuers in Adiyaman, Turkey. AP
A resident in front of his collapsed building in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras. AFP
A resident in front of his collapsed building in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras. AFP
Syrian refugees shelter in a public market in the Islahiye district of Gaziantep, Turkey. AP
Syrian refugees shelter in a public market in the Islahiye district of Gaziantep, Turkey. AP
A family wait for the bodies of their relatives to be recovered in Antakya, Turkey. AP
A family wait for the bodies of their relatives to be recovered in Antakya, Turkey. AP
A woman plays with a sniffer dog in Antakya, Turkey. AP
A woman plays with a sniffer dog in Antakya, Turkey. AP
Collapsed buildings in Antakya, Turkey. AP
Collapsed buildings in Antakya, Turkey. AP
A Syrian woman takes care of her nephew Hasan Goayid, eight, in Islahiye district, Gaziantep. AP
A Syrian woman takes care of her nephew Hasan Goayid, eight, in Islahiye district, Gaziantep. AP
A Syrian child in a tent in the Islahiye district. AP
A Syrian child in a tent in the Islahiye district. AP
Collapsed buildings in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras. AFP
Collapsed buildings in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras. AFP
Emirati rescuers sift through the rubble of a collapsed building in the regime-controlled town of Jableh, northwest of the Syrian capital. AFP
Emirati rescuers sift through the rubble of a collapsed building in the regime-controlled town of Jableh, northwest of the Syrian capital. AFP
Volunteers at the Emirates Red Crescent 'Bridges of Goodness' campaign at the South Hall, Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City. Leslie Pableo for The National
Volunteers at the Emirates Red Crescent 'Bridges of Goodness' campaign at the South Hall, Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City. Leslie Pableo for The National
Martin Griffiths, UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, in Maras, Turkey. Reuters
Martin Griffiths, UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, in Maras, Turkey. Reuters
Rescuers give water to a dog after a rescue operation in Hatay, southern Turkey. AP
Rescuers give water to a dog after a rescue operation in Hatay, southern Turkey. AP
A deadly earthquake struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6. EPA
A deadly earthquake struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6. EPA
Fissures from the earthquake have crumpled the highway near Islahiyeh in Southern Turkey. Matt Kynaston / The National
Fissures from the earthquake have crumpled the highway near Islahiyeh in Southern Turkey. Matt Kynaston / The National
A Kurdish charity's aid convoy enters Syria through the Bab Al Salama crossing with Turkey, in the northern province of Aleppo. AFP
A Kurdish charity's aid convoy enters Syria through the Bab Al Salama crossing with Turkey, in the northern province of Aleppo. AFP
A rescuer with a sniffer dog searches in a destroyed building in Antakya, southern Turkey. AFP
A rescuer with a sniffer dog searches in a destroyed building in Antakya, southern Turkey. AFP
A makeshift camp erected in a stadium in the city of Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey. EPA
A makeshift camp erected in a stadium in the city of Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey. EPA
A woman mourns Turkish Cypriot victims of the earthquake, during a funeral procession in the Turkish occupied area in north-east coastal city of Famagusta, Cyprus. AP
A woman mourns Turkish Cypriot victims of the earthquake, during a funeral procession in the Turkish occupied area in north-east coastal city of Famagusta, Cyprus. AP
Rescuers carry survivor Rabia Ofkeli, 27, from the rubble in Hatay, southern Turkey. Reuters
Rescuers carry survivor Rabia Ofkeli, 27, from the rubble in Hatay, southern Turkey. Reuters
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad visits Aleppo university hospital. Reuters
Syrian President Bashar Al Assad visits Aleppo university hospital. Reuters
Members of the Swiss rescue team with a four-month-old girl, Abir, who was pulled out from the rubble in Antakya. AFP
Members of the Swiss rescue team with a four-month-old girl, Abir, who was pulled out from the rubble in Antakya. AFP
Survivors at a hospital in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Reuters
Survivors at a hospital in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Reuters
Members of the White Helmets during the fifth day of rescue operations in Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
Members of the White Helmets during the fifth day of rescue operations in Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
Indonesian Muslims perform a prayer for the victims at Istiqlal grand mosque in Jakarta. EPA
Indonesian Muslims perform a prayer for the victims at Istiqlal grand mosque in Jakarta. EPA
Emergency personnel conduct a rescue operation to save Melda, 16, from beneath the rubble of a collapsed building in Hatay, southern Turkey. AFP
Emergency personnel conduct a rescue operation to save Melda, 16, from beneath the rubble of a collapsed building in Hatay, southern Turkey. AFP
The earthquake caused a railbed overpass to collapse in Nurdagi, Turkey. AFP
The earthquake caused a railbed overpass to collapse in Nurdagi, Turkey. AFP
A framed picture on the cracked wall of a collapsed building in Kahramanmaras, south-eastern Turkey. EPA
A framed picture on the cracked wall of a collapsed building in Kahramanmaras, south-eastern Turkey. EPA
A coastal area of Iskenderun, Turkey, was flooded after the quake. Reuters
A coastal area of Iskenderun, Turkey, was flooded after the quake. Reuters
A sheet of paper lies among the rubble in Elbistan. AP
A sheet of paper lies among the rubble in Elbistan. AP
Relief supplies destined for earthquake survivors in Turkey, at a warehouse in Schoenefeld, near Berlin, Germany. AP
Relief supplies destined for earthquake survivors in Turkey, at a warehouse in Schoenefeld, near Berlin, Germany. AP
Rescuers search for survivors in the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kahramanmaras, three days after the earthquake struck. AFP
Rescuers search for survivors in the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kahramanmaras, three days after the earthquake struck. AFP
Rescuers with a child pulled out from under the rubble. Reuters
Rescuers with a child pulled out from under the rubble. Reuters
Rescuers rest on top of rubble as an aircraft drops water over a fire at the port in the quake-stricken town of Iskenderun. Reuters
Rescuers rest on top of rubble as an aircraft drops water over a fire at the port in the quake-stricken town of Iskenderun. Reuters
A rescue worker in Kahramanmaras, three days after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck south-east Turkey. AFP
A rescue worker in Kahramanmaras, three days after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck south-east Turkey. AFP
People try to pull out a dog trapped beneath the rubble in Iskenderun, Turkey. Reuters
People try to pull out a dog trapped beneath the rubble in Iskenderun, Turkey. Reuters
Lorries carrying humanitarian aid wait at Bab Al Hawa crossing on the Turkey-Syria border. Reuters
Lorries carrying humanitarian aid wait at Bab Al Hawa crossing on the Turkey-Syria border. Reuters
Syrians warm up by a fire outside a makeshift tent near the rebel-held town of Jindayris in Syria. AFP
Syrians warm up by a fire outside a makeshift tent near the rebel-held town of Jindayris in Syria. AFP
A dam on the Orontes river in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province collapsed after the quake, flooding the neighbourhood. AFP
A dam on the Orontes river in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province collapsed after the quake, flooding the neighbourhood. AFP
The sails of the Sydney Opera House lit with a black ribbon in remembrance and mourning of the earthquake victims. Getty
The sails of the Sydney Opera House lit with a black ribbon in remembrance and mourning of the earthquake victims. Getty
Smoke billows amid an expanse of collapsed and damaged buildings in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Reuters
Smoke billows amid an expanse of collapsed and damaged buildings in Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Reuters
Dogs of the German International Search and Rescue team rest between operations in Kirikhan, Turkey. Reuters
Dogs of the German International Search and Rescue team rest between operations in Kirikhan, Turkey. Reuters
White Helmets volunteers rescue a child trapped beneath the rubble in Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
White Helmets volunteers rescue a child trapped beneath the rubble in Jandaris, Syria. Reuters
People gather to collect food and humanitarian aid in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, south-east Turkey. EPA
People gather to collect food and humanitarian aid in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras, south-east Turkey. EPA
The statue of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, is surrounded by damaged buildings in Adiyaman province. AP
The statue of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey, is surrounded by damaged buildings in Adiyaman province. AP
A plane carrying humanitarian air sent for earthquake survivors lands in Damascus. Mahmoud Rida / The National
A plane carrying humanitarian air sent for earthquake survivors lands in Damascus. Mahmoud Rida / The National
Motorway fractured by earthquake causes car crash near Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Matt Kynaston / The National
Motorway fractured by earthquake causes car crash near Kahramanmaras, Turkey. Matt Kynaston / The National
A tent camp has been set up at a stadium in south-eastern Turkish city of Kahramanmaras to shelter families whose homes were destroyed in the quake. AFP
A tent camp has been set up at a stadium in south-eastern Turkish city of Kahramanmaras to shelter families whose homes were destroyed in the quake. AFP
A displaced Syrian woman rests under a tree in a field on the outskirts of the rebel-held town of Jindayris. AFP
A displaced Syrian woman rests under a tree in a field on the outskirts of the rebel-held town of Jindayris. AFP
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

In Search of Mary Shelley: The Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein
By Fiona Sampson
Profile

Neil Thomson – THE BIO

Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.

Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.

Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.

Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.

Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.

Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: March 06, 2024, 8:21 AM
SyriaTurkeyUAEA Closer Look

More Podcasts

Syrian President Ahmad al Shara. Sectarian violence, economic despair and devastated infrastructure have posed challenges for his government. Photo: Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic.

One year since Assad’s fall: Where is Syria today?

Israeli settlers disrupt Palestinian farmers' harvest in the occupied West Bank. AFP.

Is US pressure finally forcing Israel to address settler violence?

Episode 100: A day out at the newly-opened Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi

A day out at the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi

Helima Croft on oil markets, sanctions, next year's scenarios and personal lessons

RBC's Helima Croft on oil, sanctions and her time at the CIA

More podcasts

The UAE Today

The latest news and analysis from the Emirates

          By signing up, I agree to The National's privacy policy. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
          The UAE Today