Monday’s earthquake killed more than 2,300 people.
Turkey and Syria were hit by three powerful earthquakes on Monday, causing massive damage to infrastructure and killing more than 2,600 people. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake in the morning was followed by dozens of aftershocks, wiping out entire areas of major Turkish cities in a region where millions have fled civil war. in Syria and other conflicts.
In the Turkish province of Hatay, the only runway at the airport has also been destroyed and is completely unusable. A video of the runway being completely destroyed has been shared on social media. It shows the runway split in two, forcing it to be closed to all flights.
Monday’s earthquake The Turkish president said it was Turkey’s worst disaster in decades. According to seismologists, the first quake was one of the largest ever recorded in the country. 12 hours later, a second earthquake was triggered with a magnitude of 7.5, with the epicenter in Elbistan district, Kahramanmaras province, according to reports. BBC.
Also Read | Video shows building collapsing like House Of Cards after Turkey earthquake
An official from Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency said it was “not an aftershock” and was “independent” of the previous quake.
Thousands of buildings have collapsed, and some videos show the moment they collapsed, as onlookers ran for shelter. Among the destroyed buildings was Gaziantep Castle, a historic landmark that stood for more than 2,000 years. Turkey’s energy infrastructure has also been damaged and videos have emerged showing massive fires in southern Turkey.
Officials counted more than 50 aftershocks within the first 10 hours of the original disaster. They have warned that more will rumble for days to come.
Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an international response to the crisis. According to BBC, the European Union is sending search and rescue teams to Turkey, while rescue forces from the Netherlands and Romania are already on the way. The UK said it would send 76 experts, equipment and rescue dogs. France, Germany, Israel and the US have also pledged to help. Russia and Iran have offered to help both Turkey and Syria.
