Latest Updates On The earthquakes in Turkey and Syria: What is the magnitude of the earthquake, how many have lost their lives, how many have been injured, what are the estimated losses, how is the nation responding, and who all are offering support?
Turkey reports a massively disastrous earthquake in less than 12 hours. A new earthquake that registered a 7.6 magnitude on the Richter scale struck Turkey. The Elbistan district in Kahramanmaraş Province in southern Turkey faced the impacts.
Earlier today Turkey was struck with an earthquake that reported a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale around dawn. It was in Gaziantep a city in Turkey situated 40 km distance from the border of Syria. Syria also faced a new earthquake that impacted the regions of Damascus, Latakia, and neighboring provinces.
The first earthquake that struck the country around dawn caused atrocities that were not able to prevent as many of the citizens of the nation were in their sleep.
Although the national government initiated search and rescue operations, it was hindered owing to bad weather conditions. The earthquake is reported as the worst one that the country has faced in more than ten decades of time. The epicenter of the earthquake is regarded as Gaziantep.
Gaziantep is around a distance of 90 km away from the Syrian border. The millions of refugees of the Syrian civil war are housed in this area. The regions of Adana and Antakya are among the most affected parts.
The airport situated in Adana is closed for a time of indefinite period until further notice. The earthquake wreaked havoc on over 2818 buildings, which it was flattened to the ground,
The government of Iraq reported minor earthquake tremors experienced in the provinces of Mosul, Dohuk, and Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region. All of these are residential areas with dense populations.
What Are The Losses Faced By The Nation?
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey said that the earthquake was the largest disaster in the country since the year 1939. The president stated that 34,000 people had been killed and 80,000 had been injured.
Numerous buildings have collapsed and the authorities are still making attempts to rescue people that have been trapped under the remains.
Turkey faced the destructive loss of Gaziantep Castle, an ancient landmark that had long-running roots in the history of Turkey. The castle was built during the reign of the Roman period in the second and third centuries C.E. It was expanded over time.
The dome of the castle and the major portions of the eastern wall of the Şirvani Mosque, a prominent religious site has also collapsed. The cultural sites have managed to stay an integral part of the remains of the Turkish empire.
Syria has reported the death of more than 470 people. Injured people and other victims are held both in government-controlled and rebel-held areas.
As per the reports available from the Health Ministry of Syria, it stated that out of the deceased people, 326 were from the provinces of Latakia, Aleppo, Hama, and Tartus.
As per the statements of the White Helmets rescue group, which carries out search and rescue operations in the rebel-controlled areas of the northwestern provinces of Syria, it was known that the lowest verified number of death toll was estimated at 147 people.
The Ministry of Health announced that the coming hours would witness a sharp rise in the number of deaths.
What Is The Impact On Currency?
The earthquake has impacted the economy of Turkey in which the national currency has faced a major fall. The lira, the emerging currency of Turkey reached an epic fall ever in history and is lying at a low of 18.85 against one single US Dollar.
What Is The International Response?
Other nations and international platforms have offered support and aid to the nations of Turkey and Syria.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) has made initiatives to activate and send a chain of emergency medical and response teams. This is estimated to aid the injured and traumatized by the earthquake and also to provide essential first aid and to carry out further medical procedures.
Janez Lenarčič, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management of the Europen Union (the EU) stated that the 24/7 Emergency Response Coordination Centre of the EU had communicated with the authorities of Turkey.
He further said the EU had made steps and activated the Copernicus satellite, the emergency satellite mapping service in order to assist and help the first responders working on the ground.
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What Are The Helps, Aids, And Supports Offered By Other Nations And International Organizations?
The other nations to offer support were India, Poland, Ukraine, Greece, Spain, Taiwan, and Israel.
India is sending two teams from the country’s National Disaster Response Force with 100 personnel, pieces of equipment, and trained dog squads. Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister has offered support to the affected nation.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel has offered to provide immediate medical, search and recuse assistance. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the President of Ukraine has expressed the nation’s readiness to support Turkey.
Kyrikos Mitsotakis the Prime Minister of Greece has expressed deep condolences and offered immediate support by mobilizing the resources of the nation. Mariusz Kamiński, the Interior and Administration Minister of Poland have offered to send the rescue group HUSAR consisting of 76 firemen and eight rescue dogs.
The interior ministry, defense Ministry and other ministries and departments of Spain have started to coordinate to send crews to Turkey and also multiple urban rescue teams to start travel to the affected nation.
The fire department of the nation of Taiwan has stated that it had a ready team of 130 personnel, 5 search dogs, and 13 tonnes of aid, waiting for the instructions to be airborne at any moment.
