The death toll from the 7.4 magnitude earthquake registered on Monday in southern Turkey, near the Syrian border, has risen to more than 1,600, according to data provided by the authorities of both countries and the ‘white helmets’, although it is feared that the figure may rise in the coming hours because thousands of people have been injured and many are still trapped in the rubble.
The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said in statements to the press that at least 1,014 people have died and 5,385 have been injured as a result of the earthquake, which he described as «the biggest disaster since the earthquake of 1939», which left more than 30,000 dead, as reported by the Turkish state news agency, Anatolia.
«Our state has taken measures with all institutions since the earthquake took place and our provinces have mobilized all their capabilities,» he said, before noting that more than 9,000 workers are working on search and rescue operations.
Erdogan said that so far 2,470 people have been rescued, while confirming that more than 2,800 buildings have collapsed. The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) has noted that more than 78 aftershocks have been recorded, including one of magnitude 7.6 on the open Richter scale.
The governor of Kahramanmaras province, Omer Faruk Coskun, stressed that «it is not possible to give an exact number of dead and injured at this time» and added that «the damage is severe». The earthquake had its epicenter in the district of Pazarcik, located in this province.
In this line, the mayor of Kahramanmaras, Hayrettin Gungor, has recognized that the situation is a «disaster» and added that the authorities «are on the ground with all their capabilities». «Our request to citizens is not to crowd and not to disrupt traffic. We need to help the (search and rescue) teams,» he argued.
For his part, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told a press conference that the Turkish government has declared the highest level of alarm, which includes a request for international assistance, and has sent numerous search and rescue teams to the earthquake zones.
In addition, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay stressed that 102 mobile units have been sent to the affected areas, while noting that schools in the ten affected provinces will be closed for a week. Oktay also indicated that Hatay airport has been closed to traffic.
NEARLY 600 DEAD IN SYRIA The earthquake has also left 371 dead and 1,089 wounded in the areas controlled by the Syrian government, according to data published by the Syrian Ministry of Health on its website. Thus, it has detailed that the data correspond to the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama and Tartus, while stressing that the data are not definitive.
«The emergency management room of the Ministry of Health is analyzing the situation in real time and proactively. The ongoing response is being coordinated with the provinces,» he said in his statement, before adding that «all public and private medical facilities are on alert in all provinces.»
He also said that medical teams have been dispatched from Damascus, Quneitra, Homs and Tartous governorates, as well as 28 ambulances and seven mobile clinics. Four trucks with surgical and emergency supplies have also been transferred to the affected areas.
In view of the situation, the Syrian Defense Ministry has announced the mobilization of all its units and institutions to provide aid to the victims, according to a statement carried by the Syrian state news agency SANA. The country’s president, Bashar al-Assad, has also headed an emergency government meeting to analyze the situation.
To these figures must be added about 220 dead and about 420 wounded in the areas controlled by the rebels in the provinces of Idlib and Aleppo, in the northwest of the Arab country, according to the Syrian Civil Defense, known as ‘white helmets’, through its Twitter account, where it has lamented «the catastrophe and devastation» caused by the earthquake.
«The balance due to the earthquake is now 221 dead and 419 injured,» he said. «There are difficulties in rescue efforts, as hundreds of people are still trapped under the rubble and heavy equipment is needed. The number (of victims) is expected to rise, as hundreds of families are still trapped,» he stressed.
Earlier, the ‘white helmets’ had indicated that their teams «are on the ground searching for survivors and removing the dead from the rubble.» «Houses, buildings and residential areas completely destroyed. Urgent support is needed for response efforts,» they said.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
