Earthquake death toll 'much higher than official figures,' says governor

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The governor of the southeastern province of Şırnak, who has been appointed as a coordinating governor after the February 6 earthquakes, has said that the death toll following the quakes is "maybe five times worse than the announced figures."

"As a representative of the state, I have come to listen to you. Excuse me, maybe I came late, but the situation is much more grave than you know," Osman Bilgin told earthquake survivors yesterday in the Nurdağı district of the Antep province.

The district, one of the hardest-hit regions by the earthquakes, will be completely demolished, Bilgin said, referring to a conversation he had with the minister of environment and urbanization.

"I'm telling you so that you can understand the disaster that happened. Right now, there is an apartment with 150 dead bodies. Of course, it's the act of God," said the governor.

"[The situation is] much worse than the figures announced. It's three, four, maybe five times worse. We will completely demolish some provinces and build new ones ... Cities have been wiped off the map. New maps will be created. As the state, we apologize to you if we arrived late."

Over 41,000 people have been killed following the magnitude 7.8 and 7.6 in Maraş, and the toll is expected to increase since there were more than 100,000 severely damaged or collapsed buildings, according to the latest statement of the country's disaster management authority. (Mİ/VK)