ALBAWABA - The death toll in Turkey's two powerful earthquakes, which struck a large swath in the southern part of the Mideast nation, rose to 2,379, according to Vice President Fuat Oktay.
The earthquakes left 14,483 other people injured in 10 provinces across Turkey, where rescue teams are searching for survivors stuck under the rubble.
Orhan Tatar, risk reduction general manager of the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), said that at least 7,840 people have been rescued, local Turkish media revealed.
#BREAKING Turkey updates earthquake death toll to 2,316 pic.twitter.com/3wwiN7fkYQ
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 6, 2023
In Syria, the death toll jumped to 1,136. The state Syrian Arab News Agency reported that 656 died in government-controlled areas, while the "White Helmets" group, officially known as the Syria Civil Defense, reported 480 deaths in opposition-controlled districts, CNN wrote.
The United Nations Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, urged world leaders to send medical aid for Syrians following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, which battered mostly the northern part of the country and neighboring Turkey, further north.
NW #Syria in a state of catastrophe after 7.8 magnitude #earthquake. Destruction, devastation, and collapse of buildings. Hundreds of injuries, dozens of deaths, many trapped under the rubble or stranded in the winter cold. We call on the international community to take action. pic.twitter.com/rtzqRJa8IP
— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) February 6, 2023
Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and several other nations responded by saying that they will dispatch medical aid to Turkey and Syria. Charities and other organizations are also raising donations online for the people who were afflicted by the massive tremor.
The strong earthquake was also felt in neighboring countries, including Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine and Israel.
