BREAKING NEWS... Important statements from President Erdogan at the crisis center: 3 months of State of Emergency in 10 provinces

President Erdogan made a statement at the State Information Coordination Center about the earthquakes in Kahramanmaras, announced that the painful heavy loss has increased. He stated that the loss of life is 3,549, the number of injured is 22,168 and that more than 8 thousand citizens have been rescued from the rubble so far. Erdoğan said, "The Gendarmerie, the police force and the personnel of the Ministry of Interior are in our region. Our security guards are also actively participating in these works. We have commissioned our UAVs to determine the impact on a large area. Thousands of our volunteersrush into the region under the coordination of AFAD. All our municipalities, regardless of party, send aid materials to the region. Thousands of construction machines are on the move towards the region."

Erdoğan continued his statement:
Experts say "There is no example in the world" for the earthquake. 53,317 rescue workers were deployed. We are facing one of the biggest disasters not only in our Republic history, but also in our geography and the world. So far, 54 thousand tents, 102 thousand beds and other necessities have been sent to the region. We have appointed additional governors and district governors in each province where our disaster took place.

"100 BILLION HAD BUDGETED"

We budgeted of 100 billion liras for emergency aid and support at the first stage. It is important to keep transportation and communication lines open. There are still difficulties in the delivery of search and rescue teams and aid materials. For this reason, I remind you that no one should use the roads in the earthquake area.

Our state has started to work in disaster areas with all its institutions, personnel, intermediaries wtih the spirit of mobilization.

Regardless of the difficulty of the conditions, we continue our search and rescue efforts with the support of our citizens and volunteers, using all the means of our state.

Gendarmerie, police force, personnel of the Ministry of Interior are in our region. Our security guards also actively participate in these activities. We have commissioned our UAVs to determine the impact of the earthquake on a large area.

Thousands of our volunteers steam into the region under the coordination of AFAD. All of our municipalities, regardless of party, send aid materials to the region. Thousands of construction machines are on the move towards the region.

LOSS OF LIVES INCREASED

The loss of life in the earthquake increased to 3,549. We have 22,168 injured.

The state and the nation had collaborate and we are closely following those who try to set our people against each other while trying to overcome this historical disaster. When the day comes, we will open the notebook we are holding now, it determines those who try to cause social chaos. We will the necessary actions.

We negotiated 18 heads of state and government who called us on the phone. I would like to thank all our friends who called us and sent messages in this difficult situation of our country. The support of the international community is valuable to us.

A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR 3 MONTHS IS DECLARED IN 10 PROVINCES

We are declaring 10 provinces where earthquakes occurred as disaster zones. We declare a 3-month state of emergency so that our search and rescue activities can be carried out.

I invite our citizens and business world who want to help heal the wounds of the earthquake to donate to AFAD accounts.