ALBAWABA - Dozens were killed or injured in Turkey and Syria from a 7.8-quake that jolted a large swatch of the Middle East on Monday.
The death toll from the massive earthquake, which struck Turkish provinces, has risen to 912 dead and 5,383 injured, until the moment, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan added, in media statements, that the earthquake is the largest disaster inflicted upon his country since the 1939 earthquake, noting that about 2,818 buildings collapsed as a result of the trembler.
Several buildings in Turkey and Syria collapsed because of strong rattling, which struck at 4.17 a.m. local time in the Osmaniye province in southern Turkey.
Biz de yaşanan deprem sonrası başlatılan çalışmaları koordine ediyoruz. Yaşadığımız bu felaketi inşallah hep birlikte en kısa sürede ve en az hasarla atlatmayı temenni ediyor, çalışmalarımızı sürdürüyoruz.
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) February 6, 2023
After the quake, Erdogan posted on Twitter: "I convey my best wishes to all our citizens who were affected by the earthquake."
"We hope that we will get through this disaster together as soon as possible and with the least damage, and we continue our work," he maintained.
Turkey’s disaster management agency AFAD said, earlier on Monday, that at least 76 people had been killed and more than 440 injured in the quake that shook several provinces in southern Turkey.
"76 of our citizens lost their lives in Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Kahramanmaras, Gaziantep, and 440 citizens were injured in Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay and Kilis,” AFAD said.
More than 10 cities of Turkey affected, turkey seeking help from world, Lebanon, Syria and neighbors also affected, May Allah Help them in difficult time, prayers & donations need to help Turkish people. #Turkey #Turkiye #earthquake #TurkeyQuake #Syria #Lebanon #TurkeyEarthquake pic.twitter.com/rV0ik6qqd0
— Farhan Hameed (@farhanhq051) February 6, 2023
326 deaths in Syria
According to the latest information, the death toll from the earthquake that hit several Syrian governorates, including Aleppo, Lattakia, Hama, and Tartous, has risen to 326 deaths and 1,042 injuries so far, Deputy Syrian Minister of Health Ahmed Dmiriya told the Syrian Arab News Agency.
Previously, the state media said that 42 people were killed in government-controlled parts of the country, while a local hospital told AFP that eight others were killed in northern areas controlled by pro-Turkish factions.
“Forty-two deaths and 200 injuries have been reported in Aleppo, Hama and Latakia as a result of the earthquake in a preliminary toll,” state news agency Sana said quoting a health ministry official.
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake has shaken Turkey and Syria, killing more than 360 people, according to authorities.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 6, 2023
The quake was centred in the town of Pazarcik at a depth of six miles and there were six powerful aftershocks, according to reports.
Latest: https://t.co/pOZGBEQmDO pic.twitter.com/AqjFQExgVS
The quake was felt in other countries in the Middle East, including Jordan, Iran and Iraq. But no injuries or destruction was reported there.
