A 7.8-magnitude earthquake in the Turkey-Syria region has left a trail of devastation in the two countries. The first earthquake was followed by at least four more tremors. The earthquakes were felt in Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, and Iraq.
So far, over 6,000 deaths have been confirmed in the two countries even as rescuers race against time to search for survivors.
The international community has reached out to help the two countries, that are grappling with overflowing hospitals and a severe crunch in manpower.
Here are the latest developments:
1. The total number of deaths in Turkey and Syria due to the devastation caused by multiple earthquakes on Monday has crossed 6,200. Turkey alone has reported 4,544 deaths.
2. More than 8,000 people have been rescued so far and 26,721 people are being treated for injuries. Around 60,000 rescuers from several countries are on the ground assisting in rescue-&-relief efforts.
3. Over 22,000 personnel, including security personnel and cops, under the Interior Ministry of Turkey have joined the rescue efforts.
4. Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a three-month emergency state in 10 quake-hit provinces. He also allocated a sum of 100 billion Turkish Liras for rescue and relief efforts.
5. At least 5,775 buildings collapsed in 10 provinces in the earthquake, according to Orhan Tatar, Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency’s general director.
6. India has, so far, sent four C-17 Hercules planes with NDRF personnel and components to set up a 30-bed field hospital in Turkey.
7. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that a 6-tonne consignment of life-saving medicines and emergency medical items had been dispatched to Syria.
8. At least 125 aftershocks, measuring 4 or more, hit the area since the first earthquake of 7.8 magnitude struck Turkey on Monday.
9. Greece, which doesn’t look eye-to-eye with Turkey, has also sent help to the country, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.
10. The other nations that are sending help to Turkey are the UK, the US, Italy, France, Spain, 13 members of the European Union, Russia, Israel, Germany, Austria, Poland, Romania, Croatia, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Swtizerland, Czech Republic, Serbia, Montenegro, Moldova, Lebanon, Jordan, Iran, Egypt, Mexico, New Zealand, and China.