NewsWorldEarthquakes in Turkey and Syria leave at least 4,300 dead

Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria leave at least 4,300 dead

The official death toll from the two earthquakes in Turkey and Syria stands at 4,300, a number that continues to rise. In Turkey, the latest data from the national emergency agency estimates the number of deaths at more than 2,900 and the number of injured at more than 15,000.

The low temperatures, below 5 degrees, and the snow typical of these mountainous territories with difficult access, make it difficult to search for survivors.

So far, some 7,800 people have been rescued.

The earthquakes occurred throughout this Monday in Turkey and Syria. The first, according to the United States Geological Survey (USA), reached magnitude 7.8 on the Richter scale. The second, which occurred in the Turkish southeast near Syria, registered a magnitude of 7.5.

Turkish President Recep Tayipp Erdgan has described the event as the greatest tragedy of the last century since the Erzincan earthquake in 1939, which left some 30,000 fatalities.

The national emergency agency claims that more than 25,000 troops have been deployed, including military forces; and that the Government has allocated more than 12 million euros for the 10 most affected areas.

Meanwhile, the civil war in Syria, which has lasted for more than 10 years, prevents the official count of victims from being carried out.

On the one hand, the area controlled by the Bashar al-Assad regime, based in Damascus, the SANA agency estimates the number of dead at 593 and the number of wounded at 1,411. On the other hand, the authorities have recorded at least 700 fatalities and some 2,000 injuries.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recalled today that in these opposition areas, “heavily” affected by the earthquake, there are 4.1 million people who depend on humanitarian aid to survive, and who are in mostly women and children.

Thirteen European Union (EU) countries offered search and rescue teams on Monday, the European Commission reported, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a total of 45 nations have offered help.

Source: Euronews Español

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