Six citizens have passed away while search and rescue efforts continue in 12 buildings destroyed and damaged in Ä°zmir due to the violent earthquake, announced Friday the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).

Preliminary information has it that and 257 citizens were injured, but search and rescue teams and non-governmental organizations were dispatched to the region, as AFAD said.

Full notification by the Disaster Management Presidency:

On Friday, 30.10.2020, at 14.51, a 6.6 magnitude earthquake occurred off the Aegean Sea Seferihisar. The distance of the earthquake, which occurred at a depth of 16.54 km to the Seferihisar district of Ä°zmir, which is the closest settlement unit, is 17.26 km. After the earthquake, a total of 84 aftershocks were experienced, with a size of 16 over 4.

According to the first information received from SAKOM, a total of 6 citizens lost their lives, 1 of which was as a result of drowning, and 257 citizens were injured. Search and rescue efforts continue in 12 buildings destroyed and damaged in Ä°zmir.

After the earthquake felt throughout the Aegean Region, field scanning studies continue in all provinces affected by the earthquake, especially in Ä°zmir. In addition, aerial scanning and image transfer studies are carried out by the Gendarmerie, Police and TAF with the support of JIKU, helicopter and UAV.

After the earthquake, all the Ministry and Provincial Disaster and Emergency Management Centers were on alert; Istanbul, Afyon, Bursa, Sakarya Kütahya, Eskişehir, Çanakkale, Muğla, Balıkesir, Manisa, Konya, Denizli, Uşak and Isparta Provincial AFAD Directorates were dispatched to the region. AFAD provincial and union directorates have been put on vigilance throughout the country. In addition, search and rescue teams of JAK and non-governmental organizations were dispatched to the region.

With 3 military cargo aircraft from Ankara, Erzurum and Diyarbakır, AFAD and JAK search and rescue personnel and vehicles and equipment were dispatched to the region. A total of 3 mobile coordination trucks from Sakarya, Bursa and Afyon were directed to the region.

In order to meet the urgent need for shelter, 960 tents, 4500 blankets, 3672 beds, 3000 pillows and 3000 bed sheet sets were dispatched to the region. In addition, 54 personnel, 22 volunteers, 17 vehicles, 10,282 catering materials and mobile kitchens and equipment that can serve 25,500 people were sent to the region by the Turkish Red Crescent.

53 vehicles and 189 personnel from UMKE and 112 Emergency Aid teams were assigned in the region. According to the information given by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, there are energy cuts in 115 fields and service cuts in 10 fields in İzmir, Muğla and Aydın provinces, and teams are working to eliminate the interruptions.

3.000.000 TL by AFAD to be used in the studies carried out in the region; 5.000.000 TL emergency aid allowance was sent by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services.

According to Turkey Disaster Response Plan, search and rescue, health, in order to run without interruption of support work, the Interior Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) in coordination with all the working groups, was activated by the 7 day 24 hour operation basis.

TO THE ATTENTION OF OUR CITIZENS!

Damaged structures in the disaster area should never be entered. Roads should be left empty for emergency vehicles. When leaving the houses after the earthquake, if there is no natural gas odor in the environment, natural gas and water valves and electrical switches should be turned off.

Our citizens should not use their phones unless they need urgent assistance. Support should be given to infants, children, elderly and disabled people who may need assistance.

Developments and earthquake activity in the region are monitored 24/7 by the Ministry of Interior AFAD.