The recent earthquake raise question is Traveling to Turkey After the Earthquake, and Earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria has caused immense destruction, with over 11,000 fatalities and tens of thousands injured. The 7.8 magnitude quake, which occurred near the town of Gaziantep, close to the Syrian border, has resulted in the collapse of many buildings and a humanitarian crisis. Despite the tragedy, travelers are still wondering if it’s safe to visit Turkey.
In the wake of the disaster, the United States has offered assistance to those affected and US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, expressed her sadness over the loss of life and devastation. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the number of casualties could reach as high as 20,000.
In response to the tragedy, the US Embassy issued a statement advising American travelers to “avoid travel to areas affected by the earthquake,” while the UK Foreign Office instructed citizens to “avoid the immediate vicinity” of the incident. However, it’s important to note that the affected areas, including Gaziantep, Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Sanliurfa, are far from major tourist destinations like Antalya and Istanbul.
While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a state of emergency in the affected provinces for three months, international airlines are still operating flights to and from Turkey. However, Turkish Airlines has cancelled hundreds of flights over the past few days, and Adana and Hatay airports have been closed until further notice, while Gaziantep Oguzeli International Airport is closed to air traffic.
Despite the tragedy and the possibility of aftershocks, the majority of Turkey remains safe for travel. Tourists who are due to fly into impacted airports should contact their airlines for the latest information, but those headed to destinations like Antalya and Istanbul are unlikely to be severely impacted.
While the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria has caused immense destruction and heartbreak, travelers can still visit the country safely, provided they avoid the affected areas and stay informed about the situation