Following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, at than 900 deaths in Turkey and hundreds in Syria have been verified. The US Geological Survey reports a second earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5.
Following a powerful earthquake that shook southern Turkey and northern Syria early on Monday morning, the death toll has risen quickly.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, said during a briefing that the most recent statistics showed 912 verified fatalities and more over 5,300 injuries. Erdogan stated that the ongoing search and rescue effort was the top priority at this time.
The Ministry of Health was cited by the Syrian state news agency SANA in its report that 326 people had died and more than 1,000 had been injured.
In the meantime, the White Helmets rescue organization said that at least 221 people died and 419 were hurt in rebel-held areas.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), a 7.8 magnitude earthquake occurred close to the city of Gaziantep, a significant industrial center near the Syrian border. As far away as Lebanon, Cyprus, and Egypt, tremors were also audible.
Near the meantime, at 13:24 local time, the USGS reported a second earthquake in southeast Turkey with a magnitude of 7.5. (10:24 UTC).
Rescue efforts are in progress
Rescuers have been sent to Turkey and Syria to help recover survivors from the wreckage. Within the mountains of rubble and debris, locals have also been assisting in the search for survivors.
In some areas, rescue operations were being hampered by heavy snowfall and icy, snow-covered roads.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrote on Twitter, “I convey my best wishes to all our citizens who were affected by the earthquake.”
“We hope that we can all survive this disaster quickly and with the least amount of damage.”
International organizations were deploying resources to assist while the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) of Turkey coordinated search and rescue operations.
EU dispatching teams for search and rescue
Janez Lenarcic, the EU’s crisis commissioner, announced that rescue personnel were going to Turkey to assist local agencies.
EU commissioners Josep Borrell and Lenarcic said in a statement that “Ten Urban Search and Rescue teams have been rapidly mobilized from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania to support the first responders on the ground.”
To help search and rescue crews get to disaster areas as soon as possible, Turkey’s military has developed an air corridor.
According to a statement by Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, “We mobilized our planes to dispatch medical teams, search and rescue teams, and their vehicles to the earthquake zone.”
One of the main issues, according to the World Health Organization, is the care of people injured in the terrible earthquake.
An official from the WHO informed the Reuters news agency in a statement that “national authorities will be focusing on search and rescue at the time.” “Then, we can anticipate a rise in the demand for trauma treatment to both treat the injured and sustain the local health system as a whole.”
Structures demolished in Syria and Turkey
Early reports state that several structures have been destroyed in southern Turkish districts.
In an update on the situation, Turkey’s president said that more than 2,800 structures had collapsed.
The central city of Hama and Aleppo both experienced some building collapses, according to Syria’s state media. Damascus also experienced tremors.
According to Raed Ahmed, the director of Syria’s National Earthquake Center, this was “historically the greatest earthquake recorded in the history of the center.”
Buildings have collapsed in rebel-held portions of northwest Syria, according to the White Helmets rescue organization, which described the situation as “disastrous.”
The area is among the most seismically active in the globe.
When a 7.6 magnitude earthquake devastated the western city of Izmit in 1999, thousands of people were murdered and thousands more were left homeless.
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck the eastern city of Van in 2011 resulted in the deaths of around 500 persons.
Worldwide reaction to the terrible earthquake
The Turkish government has issued a “level 4 alarm” that requests assistance from other countries.
National Security Advisor for the White House Jake Sullivan claimed to have spoken with Turkish officials and declared that the US was prepared to assist.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen posted on Twitter, “We stand in complete solidarity with the people of Turkey and Syria after the devastating earthquake that struck this morning.”
Olaf Scholz, the chancellor of Germany, expressed shock at the earthquake’s news by saying: “We dread for the deceased as we mourn with the deceased. Germany will undoubtedly offer assistance.”
Foreign Minister of Germany Annalena Baerbock said: “My sympathies are with the family members of those who lost their lives in this tragic earthquake.” “We will rapidly get assistance on the road, together with our partners,” he continued.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he was in contact with President Erdogan and voiced “full solidarity with our ally Turkiye.” Allies, according to Stoltenberg, were enlisting assistance.
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, stated that his nation was prepared to assist Turkey and Syria in an emergency and expressed his condolences to the fallen families.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, provided help and sent a message of solidarity.
Zelenskyy tweeted, “I am shocked to learn about deaths and injuries of hundreds of people as a result of the earthquake in Turkey. We support the good people of Turkey at this time and are prepared to offer any assistance that is required,” Zelenskyy declared.
Yoav Gallant, Israel’s defense minister, added that his nation was ready to help if necessary.
Greece is one among the nations that has offered support to Ankara. Greece would assist right away, said Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the chairman of the Greek government, despite hostilities between his nation and Turkey.
India announced that it would send rescue and medical teams to Turkey, and the country’s foreign ministry backed up the announcement.
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, expressed his sorrow and pledged assistance.
In a statement to Erdogan, Putin stated, “Please accept my sincere condolences on the numerous human losses and extensive destruction inflicted by a tremendous earthquake in your nation.