Early morning on February 6th, 2023, a powerful earthquake shook the region near the Syrian border in south-eastern Turkey. The US Geological Survey reported the 7.8 magnitude tremor had a depth of 17.9 km and struck at 04:17 local time (01:17 GMT). In the aftermath of this devastating quake, the death toll has risen to over 500 people in Turkey and Syria.
This blog post is a summary of the tragic events that have occurred in the aftermath of the earthquake. In Turkey, 76 deaths have been confirmed and 10 cities have been affected, including Diyarbakir. The Syrian health ministry has reported more than 230 deaths in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama and Tartus. The number of injured people is estimated to be over 600.
Rescue teams are searching for survivors under the piles of rubble that have been left in the wake of the quake. In Diyarbakir, a shopping mall has collapsed and in Lebanon, one student reported feeling the quake for four to five minutes. In the Gaza Strip, the quake lasted for about 45 seconds.
The tragedy of this earthquake is immense and the death toll is expected to rise in the coming hours. Our hearts go out to all those affected by the quake and we are sending our thoughts and prayers to all those affected. In these difficult times, we must come together and support one another.
Source: www.bbc.com