South-eastern Turkey, near Syria’s border, was hit by a powerful earthquake on Monday (February 6) and had a death toll that can increase as much as eight times, according to the World Health Organisation.
It has increased rapidly since the first earthquake struck early on Monday morning before the second powerful tremor hit further north about 12 hours later.
The US Geological Survey said that the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck at 04:17 local time at a depth of 17.9km near Gaziantep.
Seismologists said the first earthquake was one of Turkey’s largest ones ever recorded. Survivors also shared that the quake took two minutes to stop shaking.
The second quake, triggered by the first, had a magnitude of 7.5, and the epicentre was in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras province. Many aftershocks also can still be felt across the region.
Rescuers have been searching through mountains of rubble in snowy conditions to find survivors. Countries worldwide also sent support to help the rescue process, including sniffer dogs, specialist teams and equipment.
As per WHO’s warning, the number of dead and injured in Turkey and Syria has been increasing rapidly throughout Monday and is most likely to increase as rescuers find more victims in the rubble.
The freezing and snowy conditions add to the dangers, as many people are left without shelter.
The vast majority of victims are in war-torn northern Syria, where millions of refugees are seeking refuge in camps on both sides of the border with Turkey. Several deaths have been reported in rebel-held regions.
Thousands of buildings have collapsed in both nations, and some videos show the moment they fell as onlookers fled for cover. Many 12-story-high buildings have been flattened, highways have been wrecked, and there are massive heaps of rubble.
The Gaziantep Castle, a historic landmark that has stood for more than 2,000 years, was among the buildings destroyed due to the catastrophe.
Turkey remains one of the world’s most active earthquake countries, including Iran, Indonesia, Japan and China.
Melisa Salman, one of Kahramanmaras residents, said that living in an earthquake zone implied she was already used to “being shaken”, but last Monday’s quake was “the first time we have ever experienced anything like that”.
“We thought it was the apocalypse,” she said.
“Many buildings in different cities and villages in north-western Syria collapsed,” a volunteer with the White Helmets rescue group shared with BBC.
The volunteer added that many families are still under the rubble, and they are trying to save them, but it is a hard task for them.
He also said the rescue group needs help from the international community to do something to help and support them as North-western Syria is now a disaster area.
Source: BBC
