Devastating Earthquake on Border of Turkey and Syria

An earthquake of 7.8 magnitudes on the border of Türkiye and Syria, Gaziantep, a city of Turkiye, on Monday at 4:17 am was recorded. A big disaster after 84 years in Türkiye; both countries have many beautiful multi-story buildings; 5,600 buildings were collapsed, 4,300 plus people died, 14,000 people injured in Türkiye, and 3,411 in Syria due to the earthquake. After a few hours, aftershocks of 7.5 magnitudes were recorded.

Freezing weather conditions add problems in rescuing the people under the rubble of the buildings. People were frightened more when, in a rescue operation in Gaziantep, a nearby building collapsed during the rescue process. Officials have interrupted the supply of electricity and natural gas as a preventive measure. Schools will remain closed for two
weeks.

World Health Organization’s estimates are death rate can exceed 20,000. UNESCO fears more losses will be in two cities, Diyarbakir in Turkey and Aleppo in Syria.

Fire erupted in fallen containers at the Iskenderun Port of the Mediterranean Sea. Efforts are made to control the fire. Baku Tablisi-Ceyhan (BTC) terminal will remain close till 8th February.

The United States, Russia, and Ukraine offered aid to Türkiye to cope with the disaster.