Turkey has been one of the most popular holiday destinations for many years. However, over the past month, the country has experienced several earthquakes, which have caused widespread destruction and claimed the lives of thousands of people. After the disaster, many tourists began to wonder whether they should cancel their trips to this country. The Piligrimos editorial team provides answers to a number of pressing questions.
Is it safe to travel to Turkey right now?
So, earthquakes have been recorded in 10 provinces: Gaziantep, Hatay, Osmaniye, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Sanliurfa, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Adana, and Malatya. However, Istanbul and the beach resorts, which are very popular among tourists, are quite far from the epicenter.
However, if you have booked a trip to Turkey for the coming weeks or months, check the information about your region regularly. By the way, when choosing a destination for your trip, keep in mind that the closest Mediterranean resort to the affected regions is Antalya.
In recent weeks, tourists have also been trying to stay away from the affected provinces. Therefore, in the next few weeks, and perhaps months, you can enjoy a nice vacation in Antalya and nearby resorts. You can expect good prices and a warm welcome.
Have Turkey's airports been affected by the earthquakes?
Unfortunately, some airports were indeed partially affected, but most major airports continued to operate. However, the government did suspend commercial flights for a certain period of time.
For example, Hatay Airport on the southeast coast closed after its runway split in half. Some airports also temporarily performed humanitarian missions: they accepted aid from other countries and helped local residents leave the affected areas. For example, the local airline Pegasus offered free tickets for domestic flights.
All airports have now returned to normal operations. It should also be noted that airports outside resort towns suffered minor damage.
Incidentally, Belavia has not stopped selling tickets. The company currently offers tickets starting at 600-700 rubles. You can also explore offers through the internal systemtravelhub.by.
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What do they recommend to travelers?
Following the recent disasters, visitors to the country are advised to familiarize themselves with earthquake safety rules. This knowledge will also be useful in other countries. For example, New Delhi in India and Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, have also experienced earthquakes in recent days.
In addition, it is worth developing a family emergency communication plan. For example, where will the meeting point be if family members suddenly become separated?
Before traveling, take out travel insurance. Make sure it covers natural disasters so that you are prepared for anything.
It would also be a good idea to put together an "emergency kit." It should contain enough food and water to last several days, a flashlight, and a whistle that can be used to signal rescuers.
If you are traveling to relatively unsafe areas, remember the emergency services numbers. However, they will be useful whenever you visit the country:
- Police – 155.
- Emergency services – 112.
- Fire department – 110.
- Information – 118.
- Embassy of Belarus: +90 (312) 441-67-69, +90 (312) 441-67-70.
- Consular service: +90 (312) 441-64-50.
- Consulate General of Belarus in Istanbul: +90 (212) 573 66 31, +90 (212) 573-66-31 (2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.).
