Turkey-Syria earthquake updates: Death toll climbs to over 41,000

The Feb. 6 quake was centered in Turkey's southeastern Kahramanmaras province.

ByMelissa Gaffney, Morgan Winsor, Emily Shapiro, Ivan Pereira, Meredith Deliso, Nadine El-Bawab, and Kevin Shalvey
Last Updated: February 15, 2023, 8:35 AM EST

More than 41,000 people are dead after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked southeastern Turkey and northwestern Syria on Feb. 6, according to Turkish and Syrian officials.

The pre-dawn quake was centered in the town of Pazarcik in Turkey's southeastern Kahramanmaras province and was followed by several powerful aftershocks. Thousands of buildings were toppled on both sides of the border, and the death toll continued to rise as rescue workers searched for survivors in the massive piles of rubble.

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook central Turkey early Monday and was followed by a strong aftershock.
Associated Press Staff/AP

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Here's how the new is developing. All times Eastern.
Feb 07, 2023, 1:08 PM EST

Major port suffers damage in earthquake

The Port of Iskenderun in southern Turkey sustained heavy damage on Monday.

The port, located on the Mediterranean coast in the southern province of Hatay, was damaged due to the earthquake that struck Turkey and neighboring Syria.

Smoke rises from burning containers at the port in the earthquake-stricken town of Iskenderun, Turkey, Feb. 7, 2023.
Benoit Tessier/Reuters

"The Port of Iskenderun remains closed until further notice, as teams look to repair the significant damage caused by the disaster and subsequent fire," shipping group AP Moller Maersk said in a statement Tuesday. "We are currently unable to say exactly how long operations will be stopped at the port, but we will keep customers informed of the latest developments as soon as possible."

Maersk said it was not accepting any new bookings to or from the port and were developing contingency plans with nearby hubs.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

Feb 07, 2023, 11:02 AM EST

Professional soccer player among the injured

Christian Atsu, a professional soccer player for the Turkish team Hatayspor, was among the more than 8,000 people rescued from the rubble in Turkey, according to his team.

In this file photo taken on June 26, 2019, Ghana's midfielder Christian Atsu chases down the ball during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations football match between Ghana and Benin at the Ismailia Stadium.
Ozan Kose/AFP via Getty Images, FILE

Atsu was injured in the quake. The sporting director for Atsu’s team remains under the rubble, according to a team vice president.

Atsu was on Ghana's 2014 World Cup team and also played for Newcastle United in the English Premier League.

-ABC News’ Will Gretsky

Feb 07, 2023, 9:21 AM EST

150,000 people left homeless in Turkey

At least 150,000 people in Turkey have been left homeless due to Monday’s deadly earthquake and aftershocks, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

A child watches as people sleep inside a bus following an earthquake in Antakya, Turkey, Feb. 6, 2023.
Umit Bektas/Reuters

Feb 07, 2023, 9:13 AM EST

23 million people affected in Turkey, Syria

Some 23 million people in Turkey and Syria have been affected by Monday’s massive earthquake and powerful aftershocks, according to Turkish and Syrian authorities.

A woman is rescued after surviving the earthquake in Hatay, Turkey, the day after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's southeast on Feb. 7, 2023.
Bulent Kilic/AFP via Getty Images

About 13.5 million of them are in Turkey, according to Turkish Minister of of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum.

Rescue efforts have been hampered by snow and freezing temperatures in the 10 affected Turkish provinces, Kurum said during a press conference Tuesday in the city of Gaziantep, near the quake’s epicenter.

-ABC News’ Nasser Atta, Engin Bas and Joe Simonetti