Ankara: At least 2,316 people were killed, over 13,293 were injured, 5,606 buildings collapsed, and hundreds remain fearful of being trapped under the rubble after a earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck Turkey, at dawn on Monday, Anadolu Agency reported.
The Syrian Health Ministry says the death toll in government-held areas of Syria climbed to 656 people, with some 1,403 injured and in rebel-held areas, more than 450 people were killed.
According to information Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, the quake occurred at 4:17 am local time.
Kahramanmaraş Hatay and Osmaniye were the cities most affected by the quake.
The citizens in Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Palestinian territories, Armenia, Georgia and Egypt, felt the aftershocks of the earthquake.
“📢 Earthquake Revised 📌 The magnitude of the earthquake that occurred in Pazarcık (Kahramanmaraş) this morning at 04:17 was revised as Mw 7.7 with detailed seismological studies. 📌 We present it to the public. #Hero #earthquake,” AFAD tweeted.
According to German Center for Geosciences Research a 7.7-magnitude earthquake shook central Turkey early Monday morning.
American Center for Earthquakes said that the magnitude of the earthquake that struck southern Turkey was 7.9 magnitude.
The 6 aftershocks of more than 6 degrees on the Richter scale were monitored.
Pictures broadcast by TRT showed damage to buildings and people gathering on the streets.
As per a report by Reuters, the quake lasted about a minute and shattered windows.
The Turkish Interior Minister said that the ministry’s crews are running the rescue operation in the quake-stricken area in the south of the country, which is subject to aftershocks.
Erdogan: We raised a level four alert
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, that “all our teams are on alert, we have raised a level four alert, and this alert includes international assistance.”
He added, “We cannot currently provide clear statements about information related to material and human losses.”
Video clips showed people trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings in Turkish and Syrian cities.
Earthquake zone
Turkey is located in a region with seismic activity that is among the highest in the world.
In November 2022, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck northwest Turkey, leaving about 50 injured, according to Turkish ambulance services.
Another earthquake that struck the Izig region in January 2020 killed more than 40 people.
In October of the same year, a 7-magnitude earthquake struck the Aegean Sea, killing 114 people and injuring more than a thousand others.
