Turkey-Syria Earthquakes: Over 285 aftershocks recorded in Turkey as WHO warns death toll can surge above 20,000

The eastern side of Turkey was hit by two more powerful earthquakes in the night, following the fatalities and injuries caused by previous powerful earthquakes. The US Geological Study reported a 5.4 magnitude tremor at 7.10 am (UK time) and a 4.5 magnitude aftershock half an hour earlier.

In the region, there have been a minimum of 14 significant earthquakes and approximately 285 aftershocks since midnight. The death toll has risen to at least 5,100 in both Turkey and Syria, with the World Health Organization (WHO) warning that it could potentially reach up to 20,000 in the near future. The initial earthquake of 7.8 magnitude, struck prior to dawn on Monday when most people were asleep.

Rescue workers have been searching through the rubble throughout the night, but the harsh cold weather is limiting their ability to find survivors. So far, more than 7,800 people have been rescued across 10 provinces in Turkey. Teams from international organizations are also en route to the disaster area to provide assistance. The Turkish disaster management agency reported that over 24,400 emergency responders are now present on the ground.


The widespread impact of the earthquake and the significant number of collapsed buildings in Turkey alone have stretched the rescue efforts thin. The earthquake and subsequent aftershocks have further weakened the already damaged buildings in Syria that have been subjected to bombing and airstrikes during a decade of conflict.


Adelheid Marschang, a senior emergency officer at WHO, stated that while Turkey has a robust capability to handle the crisis, the immediate and mid-term unmet needs will primarily be in Syria, which is already grappling with a long-standing humanitarian crisis due to the civil war and a cholera outbreak. She emphasized that this earthquake has added to the existing multiple crises in the affected region. She made this statement at a board meeting of the organization in Geneva.

FAQs:

1. Who is the President of Turkey?
   Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
2. When were the first tremors felt in Turkey?
   February 6, 2023, at 04:17 TRT.