More than 4,700 people died and at least 19,000 were injured in Turkey and Syria as a result of two earthquakes, one measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, recorded on Monday.
The earthquakes also caused the collapse of more than 5,600 buildings in Turkey. Rescue teams continued to search for survivors in the rubble this morning, with work limited by rain, snow and falling temperatures.
At least 3,381 people were killed in 10 Turkish provinces, with nearly 16,000 injured, Turkey’s disaster relief agency said this morning.
The death toll in government-controlled areas in Syria has risen to 656 people and about 1,400 injured, according to the Syrian Health Ministry.
At least 733 people have been killed in rebel-held northwestern Syria, with about 2,000 injured, the rescue group White Helmets said.
More than 7,800 people have been rescued in 10 provinces, according to Orhan Tatar, a senior official in Turkey’s disaster relief agency.
About 25,000 people, including military personnel, are taking part in the rescue operations, said Orhan Tatar, who added that 12.1 million euros in urgent funds have been earmarked for the 10 most affected provinces.
Turkey’s vice presidency indicated that more than 300,000 people displaced by the earthquake were being hosted in university centers, shelters and student residences.
The UN was helping 2.7 million people a month in northwest Syria with cross-border deliveries, which may now have to be halted.
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday urged the international community to help thousands of affected families, noting that “many were already in urgent need of humanitarian assistance”.
Dozens of countries have already announced that they will send aid, personnel and equipment to assist in the rescue efforts. On Tuesday it was Japan’s turn to send a team of 18 people, with South Korea also promising to send rescue teams and medicines.
The Chinese non-profit organization Raunion sent a group of eight rescue specialists with international experience, whose arrival in Turkey is scheduled for Wednesday, China’s state-run newspaper Global Times reported.
The Chinese Red Cross has decided to donate 200,000 dollars (186,300 euros) to the Turkish and Syrian Red Crescent, an organization that also receives 10 million dollars (6.4 million euros) from Australia and 1.5 million dollars (880 million euros). ) will receive. from New Zealand.
The earthquake occurred 33 kilometers from the provincial capital of Gaziantep, in southeastern Turkey, close to the border with Syria, at a depth of 17.9 kilometers.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale and dozens of aftershocks were felt, one of which measured at least 7.6.
Source: DN
