A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the border between Turkey and Syria on Saturday, and the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the death toll could rise up to eight times earlier than confirmed.
According to foreign media such as the BBC on the 7th, Katherine Smallwood, WHO’s senior emergency response officer for Europe, told AFP, “I always witness at earthquake sites the phenomenon that the initial scale of deaths and injuries increases significantly after a week.”
He warned that more buildings could collapse and that more victims would be found trapped in the rubble, increasing the death toll by up to eight times the initial figure. He points out that the death toll could rise up to 20,000.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that the death toll from the strong earthquake exceeded 4,000. Rescue operations are hampered by the cold and heavy snow, and roads and critical infrastructure have been destroyed, putting the evacuees at risk.
Earlier, around 4 am on the 6th, earthquakes of magnitudes 7.8 and 7.5 occurred in the border area of southern Turkey and northern Syria, and were strong enough to be detected in neighboring Israel, Lebanon, Egypt and Cyprus.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the intensity of the first quake on the day was the same as the earthquake that struck eastern Turkiye in 1939, 84 years ago, killing about 30,000 people.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a week of national mourning. The Turkish Ministry of Education has also announced that schools will be closed until the 13th.
The international community is joining in relief efforts for Turkey and Syria one after another.
The European Commission said search and rescue teams were mobilized from more than 10 countries, including Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania. Britain decided to send 76 experts, equipment and rescue dogs.
France, Germany, Israel, and the United States have also promised assistance, and warring Russia and Ukraine are also joining the rescue effort.
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.