Is it safe to travel to Turkey?
(CNN) — The devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday has claimed the lives of more than 11,000 people, with tens of thousand injured.
The 7.8-magnitude quake, which hit close to the town of Gaziantep in southeast Turkey, close to the Syrian border, at around 4.17 a.m. local time, was followed by a number of aftershocks.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastating humanitarian toll caused by the earthquakes impacting Türkiye and Syria,” US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement released on Tuesday.
“As humanitarian agencies work to respond, the United States stands ready to provide assistance to those affected by the disaster.”
US travelers have been advised to “avoid travel to areas affected by the earthquake,” while the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) is instructing citizens to “avoid the immediate vicinity” of the incident.
However, many of those due to visit Turkey imminently have been left wondering whether it’s still safe to travel to the country.
Here’s what we know so far:
What areas have been affected by the earthquake?
A view of the damaged Gaziantep Castle in Turkey after the devastating earthquake on February 6, 2023.
Mehmet Akif Parlak/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Approximately 10 Turkish provinces have been impacted by the quake, which was one of the strongest to hit the region in more than a century — Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a state of emergency in the affected provinces for three months.
“We have decided to declare a state of emergency to ensure that operations are carried out rapidly,” Erdogan said on Tuesday. “We are facing one of the biggest disasters not only of the history of the Turkish republic but also of our geography and the world.”
The ancient Gaziantep Castle, one of the Turkish city’s most renowned landmarks, was severely damaged due to the earthquake.
“Some of the bastions in the east, south and southeast parts of the historical Gaziantep Castle in the central Şahinbey district were destroyed by the earthquake, the debris was scattered on the road,” reported Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu.
The city of Aleppo, already ravaged by 11 years of civil war, was among the most affected areas of northwestern Syria, where more than four million people were already relying on humanitarian assistance.
Have flights to Turkey been canceled?
At the time of writing, international airlines were still operating flights to and from Turkey.
However, Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier airline of Turkey, has canceled hundreds of flights over the last few days.
Turkey’s Adana Airport is closed until further notice, according to Turkish news agency Demirören News Agency, while the nearby Hatay Airport (HTY) has also been shut due to a damaged runway.
Gaziantep Oguzeli International Airport is also closed to air traffic. Istanbul Airport, Turkey’s main international airport, is operating as normal.
Travelers due to fly into to any of the impacted airports should contact the airline for the latest information.
How will holidaymakers be impacted?
Gaziantep is located a relatively far distance from some of the country’s main tourist hubs such as Antalya, which is around 594 kilometers (369 miles) away by air, and Istanbul, about 850 kilometers (528 miles), so those headed to these destinations are unlikely to be severely impacted.
However, the possibility of further aftershocks remains a concern.
The tremors from the quake were felt as far away as Greenland, according to the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland.
“The large earthquakes in Turkey were clearly registered on the seismographs in Denmark and Greenland,” seismologist Tine Larsen told AFP.
Meanwhile, tourist Julia Miernik, who tweeted that she was on vacation in Larnaka, Cyprus, took to the social media platform to reveal that her hotel was “floating.”
CNN has contacted several airlines and holiday operators serving Turkey to clarify whether there are likely to be cancellations as a result of the earthquake.
What is the current advice for US travelers?
US travelers due to travel to Turkey in the coming days and weeks have been warned to avoid the areas impacted by the earthquake.
Top image: Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul (murattellioglu/Adobe Stock).
