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earthquake death toll tops 4,800 in turkiye and syria as more bodies recovered from debris

ADANA, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 06: A person is rescued from the wreckage of a building during search and rescue efforts after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit southern provinces of Turkiye, in Adana, Turkiye on February 6, 2023. The 7.4 magnitude earthquake jolted Turkiye's southern province of Kahramanmaras early Monday, according to Turkiye's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). It was followed by a magnitude 6.4 quake that struck southeastern Gaziantep province. A third earthquake with a 6.5 magnitude also hit Gaziantep. Earthquakes had affected several provinces including, Osmaniye, Malatya, Adiyaman, Adana, Diyarbakir, Kilis and Sanliurfa. (Photo by Eren Bozkurt/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

ISLAMABAD: The death toll in Turkiye and Syria exceeded 4,800 on Tuesday noon as the rescue teams recovered more dead bodies from the debris of collapsed buildings.

Thousands of people have suffered injuries and countless are under the debris of the collapsed buildings in both countries in the wake of the deadliest earthquake which took Turkiye and Syria on Monday morning.

Rescue teams and governments officials in Turkiye and Syria confirmed death toll soared beyond 4,800. Strong aftershocks near the Turkiye-Syria border — the largest of which measured at a massive 7.8-magnitude further worsened the situation, raising death toll.

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.

People and emergency teams rescue a person on a stretcher from a collapsed building in Adana, Turkey, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. A powerful quake has knocked down multiple buildings in southeast Turkey and Syria and many casualties are feared.

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.

7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria on Monday.

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.

Earthquake in Turkey

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.

Javed Mahmood
Written By

I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.

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