Major quake levels buildings across Turkey, Syria; kills at least 1,400

NEW DELHI,FEB 6: Another massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit the Elbistan district in Turkey’s Kahramanmaras province on Monday, the Turkish disaster agency said. Fresh tremors were also felt in Damascus, Latakia and other Syrian provinces, as per reports by Syria’s SANA news agency.

This followed soon after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit southeastern Turkey and northern Syria early Monday, killing over 1,400 people and injuring thousands others. Hundreds were still believed to be trapped under rubble, and the death toll was expected to rise as search and rescue operations continued.

At least 912 people died in Turkey from a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck early Monday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. In Syria, at least 560 people were killed by the quake.

The death toll due to the earthquake, one of the region’s most powerful tremor in nearly a century, crossed 1,400.

The powerful earthquake flattened hundreds of buildings. Visuals from quake-hit areas show residents rushing outside on a cold night as they were jolted out of sleep by the pre-dawn earthquake.

People walk next to a mosque destroyed by an earthquake in Malatya, Turkey. (Image: Reuters)

In the wake of the devastating earthquake which has claimed over 1,400 lives in Turkey and Syria, India has decided to send search and rescue teams, along with medical aid and relief materials.

The European Union also said it was sending rescue teams to Turkey after the stricken country requested EU assistance.

The UK stands ready to help in whatever way we can,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted, saying his thoughts were with the people of Turkey and Syria.

-PTI