The earthquake that struck southern Turkey on the 6th (local time) has killed more than 2,300 people.
According to the Associated Press, more than 2,300 people have been killed and thousands of buildings collapsed so far in the border area between Turkey and Syria, as a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck southern Turkey early in the morning. The death toll is expected to rise as hundreds are still believed to be trapped under the rubble.
CNN said at least 2,361 people have died so far.
Turkish authorities said 1541 people were killed and 9733 injured. It also said that more than 2,834 buildings were damaged. “Currently, 15,000 people are involved in rescue efforts,” said the Turkiye Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD).
Syria’s state news agency SANA reported 820 deaths in the country. The Syrian Ministry of Health said 430 people were killed and 1315 injured in government-controlled areas. In addition, the White Helmets, known as the civil defense force of the rebels, reported that 390 people had been killed.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) measured a magnitude 7.8 earthquake 33 km from Gaziantep in southern Turkey at 4:17 am on the same day. A few hours later, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred about 100 kilometers away. Authorities in Turkey evaluated it as a new earthquake, not an aftershock, and announced that hundreds of aftershocks were expected, the Associated Press reported.
However, CNN reported that at least 120 aftershocks occurred, saying that all earthquakes that are weaker than the main earthquake are considered as aftershocks.
The USGS has identified at least 43 aftershocks of magnitude 4.3 or greater. The USGS only reports major aftershocks that people actually feel in earthquake zones. The USGS measured three aftershocks with a magnitude of 6.0 or greater, including a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck more than 95 kilometers north of the epicenter, CNN added.
The aftershocks spanned more than 300 km along the Turkiye Anatolian fault zone. The fault zone runs from southwest to northeast in southern Turkey, extending from the Syrian border to Malatya in central Turkey.
The powerful earthquake was also felt in many countries, including Lebanon and Israel.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.