A 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed more than 1,300 people and destroyed numerous buildings in southeast Turkey and Syria early Monday.
The number of people killed in the earthquake has risen to more than 1,300, according to the Associated Press, with thousands also reported injured. CNN said nearly 1,000 search-and-rescue volunteers have been deployed from Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul, to the south of the country where the earthquake hit.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter that “search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched” to the areas hit by the quake.
“We hope that we will get through this disaster together as soon as possible and with the least damage,” he wrote.
There were at least six aftershocks, and he urged people not to enter damaged buildings due to the risks, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said.
“Our priority is to bring out people trapped under ruined buildings and to transfer them to hospitals,” he said.
In northwest Syria, the opposition’s Syrian Civil Defense described the situation in the rebel-held region as “disastrous,” according to the Associated Press, adding that entire buildings have collapsed and people are trapped under the rubble.
Neighbors of the affected countries have offered to mobilize to help in the recovery efforts.
“Deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake disaster in Türkiye and Syria. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the victims and our thoughts are with all the people affected. Greece is mobilizing its resources and will assist immediately,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog offered help as well, writing on the social media platform, “On behalf of the Israeli people, I am deeply saddened by the enormous disaster that has befallen Türkiye following last night’s earthquake. My condolences to President Erdoğan and the Turkish people for the loss of life and destruction of livelihoods.”
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was focused about 33 kilometers (20 miles) from Gaziantep, a major city and provincial capital. It was centered 11 miles deep, and a strong 6.7 aftershock rumbled about 10 minutes later.
Syria’s state media reported that some buildings collapsed in the northern city of Aleppo and the central city of Hama. In Damascus, buildings shook, and many people went down to the streets in fear.
The City of İskenderun in Southern Turkey has suffered some of the most Severe Damage caused by the Earthquake, there are reports that Fire and Rescue Crews are unable to get to many parts of the City with 100s if not 1000s of people expected to still be under collapsed buildings pic.twitter.com/kMV2hgEBXZ
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) February 6, 2023
The quake woke residents in Lebanon from their beds, shaking buildings for about 40 seconds. Many residents of Beirut left their homes and took to the streets or drove in their cars away from buildings.
The earthquake came as the Middle East is experiencing a snowstorm that is expected to continue until Thursday.
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Turkey sits on top of major fault lines and is frequently shaken by earthquakes. About 18,000 people were killed in powerful earthquakes that hit northwest Turkey in 1999.
