Türkiye is one of the most visited countries in the world, not only because of its special geography, culture or history but also because of its safety and affordable prices. This place is known as the "Crossroads of Civilizations" because this is the country where the two continents of Asia and Europe intersect, creating a unique culture that cannot be found anywhere else. Besides the unique festivals, this country is known for its many scenic spots, especially the warm sunny sea in winter in Europe.
After a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Gaziantep, southeastern Türkiye, near the Syrian border, on February 7, many tourists are asking, is it safe to travel to Türkiye in the coming days? Most visitors to top tourist destinations - mostly far from the quake-hit areas - remain unaffected.
Which areas are affected by earthquakes?
Cappadocia, a popular hot air ballooning destination, is also nearly 500 km away and is unlikely to be greatly affected.
About 10 provinces in Türkiye were affected: Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa. The 2,000-year-old Gaziantep Castle, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city of the same name, was severely damaged by the earthquake.
"Several fortresses in the east, south and southeast of the ancient Gaziantep castle in the central Şahinbey district were destroyed by the earthquake, with debris scattered on the road," Turkish state news agency Anadolu reported.
Aleppo city is also one of the hardest hit areas in northwestern Syria.
The city of Gaziantep (in the province of the same name) and its surrounding area were the hardest hit, according to the Independent. The city is located in the southeast, close to the Syrian border but far from the two popular tourist destinations of Antalya (nearly 600 km) and Istanbul (more than 850 km). Cappadocia, a popular hot air balloon destination, is also nearly 500 km away. Therefore, visitors to these places are unlikely to be affected.
Are flights to Türkiye cancelled?
As of February 9, international airlines are still operating flights to and from the airport. Turkey's Adana airport is closed until further notice, while nearby Hatay Airport (HTY) is also closed due to runway damage, according to Turkish news agency Demirören News Agency. Istanbul Airport, Turkey's main international airport, is operating normally. Travelers flying to any of the affected airports should contact their airlines for the latest information.
Istanbul Airport, Türkiye's main international airport, remains operational.
Recommendations from governments of various countries
The US government advises to "avoid travel to areas affected by the earthquake". The UK Foreign Office says people should "avoid travel to nearby (affected) areas". However, neither country has asked citizens to avoid other unaffected areas of Türkiye.
