ISTANBUL: The death toll from massive earthquakes in Turkey and Syria has reached 4,800. Rescue operations are ongoing in both countries. The World Health Organization said the number of deaths would rise eightfold. There are reports that around 18,000 people were injured in the earthquake. Around 6000 buildings were destroyed in the earthquake. Many countries have offered aid to the disaster area. Disaster relief teams have arrived in Syria from countries including India.
In Turkey, 3,381 died and 14,483 were injured. Officials said 1,444 people have been killed and nearly 1,000 injured in Syria.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake was followed by a series of aftershocks in Turkey. An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale was felt in southeast Turkey. An aftershock of 6.7 on the Richter scale was also felt 15 minutes later. There were at least 50 aftershocks.
16 Many buildings collapsed. There are also reports that many people are trapped inside. Movement was felt in Lebanon and Cyprus.
The earthquake affected Aleppo, Hama and Latakia. The Syrian Civil Defense Force said more than 100 people were trapped in the rubble of buildings in the rebel-held Idlib region.
The earthquake struck at 4:17am local time on Monday. A powerful earthquake happened while people were sleeping. Pictures emerged of terrified people running around in panic. Efforts are underway to evacuate people from the collapsed buildings. The epicenter of the earthquake was 17.9 kilometers underground in Gaziantep, south-east Turkey, near the border with Syria.
News agencies report that the earthquakes affected all the major cities of southeastern Turkey. 2818 buildings collapsed. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said it was the first such disaster since 1939 when 2,818 buildings collapsed. The Syrian National Earthquake Monitoring Agency said it was the largest earthquake in Syria.
The tremors were felt in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, and other major cities nearby. The Turkish Interior Minister announced that the earthquake affected ten cities in Turkey. The President of Turkey, Tayyip Erdogan, announced on Twitter that rescue teams have been sent to the disaster area and that the whole country will face the disaster together. After the first tremor, six aftershocks were felt and the authorities have warned people not to enter the damaged houses.
The United Nations and various countries have announced aid to both countries. India has announced that it will send a rescue team including NDRF to Turkey. Two teams of NDRF comprising 100 personnel are being sent. The team will be accompanied by doctors and dogs trained to provide emergency services in the face of disaster. The decision to send the rescue team was taken in a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Mishra.
India will stand with the people of Turkey and Syria. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that all help is being offered to overcome the calamity.
The World Health Organization said emergency medical team networks are active and providing first aid to those injured in the disaster. The European Union has announced that a 24-hour coordination center has become operational and services including emergency satellite mapping have begun.
Ukraine has expressed its readiness to provide necessary assistance to the people of Turkey. Russia has announced that its IL-76 aircraft will soon arrive in Syria with 100 rescue workers. Russia also said it was ready to send rescue workers to Turkey if necessary.
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