[ad_1]
The death toll from Monday’s earthquakes in Turkey and Syria now exceeds 3,000 in both countries. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a seven-day national mourning in Turkey on Monday evening.
Turkey, at the junction of three tectonic plates, is one of the most seismically active areas in the world. Two earthquakes occurred on the Turkey-Syria border, one last night with a magnitude of 7.8, the largest to hit the region in nearly 25 years, and the second late this morning with a magnitude of 7.5.
The death toll, still provisional, continues to rise, with more than 3000 people killed in Turkey and Syria and more than 11,000 injured, the authorities in both countries said.
Tonight, Turkish authorities said the death toll from the overnight earthquake had risen to 1,762, with more than 11,000 injured and more than 3,400 buildings collapsed.
Northern Syria has also been hit hard, with at least 593 people dead and 1,411 injured, according to a new report on Monday evening. In the north-western part of the country, in the rebel zone, rescue workers say at least 700 people have been killed and more than 2,000 injured.
The search for survivors continues as many people remain trapped under the rubble. The snow and cold weather are making it even more difficult for those left homeless and for rescue workers to work.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a seven-day national mourning in Turkey on Monday evening.
The Syrian government has urged the international community to come to its aid. “Syria calls on UN member states (…) the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian groups (…) to support the Syrian government’s efforts to cope with the devastating earthquake,” the Syrian foreign ministry said in a statement. Syrian diplomatic chief Faisal Moqdad expressed his country’s willingness to “facilitate all necessary [procedures] for international organisations to provide humanitarian aid”.
Aid from around the world.
On Monday evening, 139 French Civil Security rescue workers will fly to Turkey. Seven other European Union countries will send rescuers, including Germany, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Spain and Finland. India announced on Monday that it would immediately send rescue and medical teams as well as rescue equipment. Many other countries have offered assistance – Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis offered Erdogan “immediate help” as did Ukraine and Russia.
[ad_2]
Source link