The death toll in Turkiye and Syria exceeded 3,700 early Tuesday morning in the wake of the deadliest earthquake in the history of both countries.
Thousands of people have suffered injuries and countless are under the debris of the collapsed buildings in both countries.
Turkiye has reported more fatalities and damage to infrastructure than Syria.
The magnitude 7.8 quake created havoc in both countries, flattening thousands of apartments and other buildings. The earthquake hit Turkiye and Syria before sunrise on Monday morning and an aftershock of 7.7 further ignited the catastrophe.
In Turkiye, the death toll increased to above 2,300, while thousands have suffered injuries.
He, however, said that he could not predict how much the death toll would rise as search and rescue efforts continued.
“Everyone is putting their heart and soul into efforts although winter season, cold weather and the earthquake happening during the night makes things more difficult,” he said.
US agency’s Statement
According to the US agency, the earthquake occurred at 04:17 local time (0117 GMT) at a depth of roughly 17.9 kilometers (11 miles). Then 15 minutes later, a 6.7-magnitude occurred.
Initial Earthquake’s magnitude
The initial earthquake’s magnitude was estimated by Turkey’s AFAD emergency service centre to be 7.4. The earthquake was among the strongest to strike the area in at least a century.
The earthquake destroyed many structures in important southern Turkish cities. As well as in the neighboring country of Syria, which has been afflicted by turmoil for more than ten years. Moreover, home to millions of displaced people.
In one image from Kahramanmaras, a fire lit up the night sky. But its source was unknown. Buildings also collapsed in the cities of Adiyaman as well as in Malatya, and Diyarbakir.
The earthquake was reportedly felt in areas of central Turkey. Those areas include the capital Ankara.
The head of Syria’s National Earthquake Center, Raed Ahmed told pro-government radio, this was “historically, the greatest earthquake recorded in the history of the centre”.
Turkey comes in one of the world’s most active earthquake zones.
PRAYERS HELD FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS AT PAKISTAN EMBASSY ANKARA
Special prayers were held for our Turkish brothers affected by earthquake at an event held at Pakistan Embassy Ankara.
The event was initially organized to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day to express solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiri people in their just and legitimate struggle for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination.
During the event, the Embassy made special arrangements to offer prayers for the victims of the earthquake.
Speaking at the occasion, Ambassador Dr. Yousaf Junaid expressed heartfelt condolences over the loss of precious lives and devastating damages to property from the earthquake in Turkiye. Ambassador Junaid reaffirmed complete solidarity with Turkish brethren in his hour of grief and stated that rescue and relief teams along with relief assistance from Pakistan would reach Turkiye very soon.
The Ambassador of Pakistan to Turkiye Dr. Yousaf Junaid reiterated unwavering political, moral, and diplomatic support to the people of Kashmir until the resolution of the dispute in accordance with UNSC resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered condolences and expressed solidarity with the people and government of Türkiye in this trying time during a telephone call with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
