Highlighting the enormous magnitude of the disaster Türkiye was faced with, President Erdoğan said: “The leading scientists of the world agree on the magnitude and destructiveness of the earthquake that hit our country. This earthquake, described as the disaster of the century, was felt over an area stretching 1,000 kilometers, and it caused actual destruction over an area of 500 kilometers. Our cities, hit by the earthquake, houses 13.5 million people. Together with the neighboring regions, where the earthquake was felt and unsettled our people, this figure nears 20 million.” “WE ARE DIVERTING THE TEAMS IN AREAS WHERE S&R EFFORTS ARE COMPLETED TO KAHRAMANMARAŞ, ADIYAMAN AND HATAY” “The total death toll in the quake-hit areas has reached 21,043. Also, 80,097 people have been rescued,” President Erdoğan noted. “In some parts of the cities, the search and rescue efforts are completed. In some parts, efforts are still underway. We are diverting the teams in areas where S&R efforts are completed to Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman and Hatay where the destruction is more severe,” President Erdoğan said.  “Inshallah, we will quickly complete the efforts, and will leave no citizen under the rubbles, dead or alive. Afterwards, we will rapidly begin to clear the rubbles and rebuild. We are making plans to rebuild hundreds of thousands of residences, infrastructures and superstructures, in other words to rebuild our severely-damaged cities. We will start taking concrete steps within a few weeks.” “WE ARE IN TOTAL EARTHQUAKE MOBILIZATION” Noting that the administration mobilized all the means and capabilities of the state, President Erdoğan said: “We have allocated TL100 billion for these works from our treasury alone. Trust us, believe in us that we never have and never will leave our citizens in need or out on the street. With our AFAD, the Red Crescent, municipalities, NGOs and volunteers, we are in total earthquake mobilization. 160 thousand personnel are actively working in 10 provinces at the moment, including the teams that came from abroad.” Thanking all the teams and volunteers who are working selflessly despite the harsh conditions, President Erdoğan said: “I would like to express my gratitude to all the friendly and brotherly countries that showed solidarity with Türkiye by sending search and rescue teams during these difficult times.” Announcing that the universities would switch to distance education until the summer, President Erdoğan noted that dormitories would be used to house quake-victims. “We will leave behind these trying days. I would like to once again extend my get-well wishes to our brothers and sisters in Diyarbakır. With Allah’s permission, we will rebuild all the collapsed buildings in a year.”