The World Health Organisation says the death toll could rise eight-fold as rescue operation in both the neighboring countries is going on
RH DESK
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 7
More than 4,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands injured after strong earthquakes jolted parts of Türkiye and neighboring Syria early Monday, as rescue teams are battling harsh weather to search for survivors.
The death toll could rise eight-fold, the World Health Organisation has warned.
The toll has increased rapidly since the first earthquake struck early on Monday morning.
In Türkiye, at least 2,921 people were killed and 15,834 others were injured in the earthquakes, the country’s Anadolu agency reported on Tuesday, citing the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority.
In neighboring Syria, at least 711 were killed and 1,431 injured in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Tartus, said the Syrian Health Ministry. Media reports also cited rescue workers as saying that 733 were killed and over 2,100 injured in Syria.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Turkey’s southern province of Kahramanmaras at 4:17 a.m. local time (0117 GMT) on Monday, followed by at least 78 aftershocks. The quakes were also felt in Lebanon, Israel, and Cyprus.
Rescuers have been combing through mountains of rubble in freezing and snowy conditions to find survivors.
Countries around the world are sending support to help the rescue efforts, including specialist teams, sniffer dogs, and equipment.
