A strong earthquake that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria early on Monday caused extensive damage, toppled buildings, and ignited a desperate hunt for survivors among the debris. At this time, there have been roughly 1,300 fatalities and several hundred injuries. There will likely be an increase in the death toll.
Residents were awakened from their slumber on both sides of the border by the earthquakes several hours before morning and rushed outside in the chilly, rainy, and snowy winter night. In cities along the border, dozens of buildings fell.
According to the president of Turkey, there were at least 912 fatalities and more than 5,400 injuries throughout 10 Turkish regions.
According to the Health Ministry, 326 people have died and 1,000 have been injured in Syria’s government-held territories.
The death toll in rebel-held regions was reportedly between 106 and 150. Many thousands suffered injuries.
In numerous communities on both sides of the border, rescue personnel and locals desperately looked for survivors among the wreckage of collapsed buildings while navigating through tangles of metal and concrete.
The earthquake destroyed opposition-held areas on the Syrian side of the border, where 4 million people had fled from other parts of the nation due to the protracted civil conflict. Many of them have poor living circumstances and minimal access to healthcare. A doctor in the town, Muheeb Qaddour, told The Associated Press over the phone that at least 11 people were murdered in the town of Atmeh and that many more were buried in the debris.
The epicentre of the earthquake, which was felt as far away as Cairo, was located around 90 kilometres (60 miles) north of Gaziantep, the largest provincial capital in Turkey with a population of more than 2 million. The more than ten years of war in Syria have altered the region. Turkey is home to millions of Syrian refugees. There are sections of Syria that are controlled by the government and areas that are controlled by the opposition. At least 20 aftershocks followed, the biggest measuring 6.6 hours later during daylight, according to Turkish authorities.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, announced on Twitter that “search and rescue teams were promptly despatched” to the earthquake-affected districts.
We aim to survive this catastrophe as quickly and with as little damage as possible, he wrote.
From the Syrian cities of Aleppo and Hama to Diyarbakir, Turkey, more than 330 kilometres (200 miles) to the northeast, buildings were reported to have collapsed.
People trying to evacuate the earthquake-hit districts in Turkey produced traffic congestion, which made it difficult for rescue crews to get to the afflicted areas. Authorities advised citizens to avoid using the roadways. In the midst of temperatures that were close to freezing, mosques all around the area were being opened as shelters for people who couldn’t go back to their damaged homes.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered about 33 kilometers (20 miles) from Gaziantep. It was centered 18 kilometers (11 miles) deep. In Damascus, buildings shook and many people went down to the streets in fear.
The earthquake came as the Middle East is experiencing a snowstorm that is expected to continue until Thursday.
Turkey sits on top of major fault lines and is frequently shaken by earthquakes. Some 18,000 were killed in powerful earthquakes that hit northwes ..
