The latest statistics for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria / more than 100 people were killed
On Monday, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey and neighboring Syria, killing dozens in the two countries, as well as severe damage, according to a preliminary outcome, amid expectations of more casualties.
Syria
In Syria, more than 100 people were killed, and dozens were injured in Hama, Aleppo, and Latakia, after the violent earthquake that struck the country, at dawn on Monday, centered on Turkey, according to an unconfirmed toll.
The Syrian regime's news agency, SANA, announced that 111 people were killed and 516 injured in the governorates of "Aleppo, Lattakia, Hama, and Tartous," which are under government control in Syria.
For his part, a medical source told "Agence France Presse", in the opposition-controlled areas near the border with Turkey, that at least eight people were killed in the collapse of many buildings.
Turkey
In Turkey, 76 people were killed and 440 others were injured as a result of the earthquake, according to "Reuters", in a preliminary toll.
On Monday, Turkey's Disaster Management Agency confirmed that 76 people had died and 440 others were injured in the devastating earthquake that shook several provinces in the south of the country.
"76 of our compatriots died in Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, KahramanmaraÅŸ and Gaziantep, and 440 citizens were injured in Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay and Kilis," the agency said.
According to the Turkish government agency for disaster management AFAD, the magnitude of the earthquake that struck at night was 7.4 at a depth of seven kilometers.
Video clips circulated on social media showing destroyed buildings in several cities in southeastern Turkey.
Buildings were destroyed in many cities in southeastern Turkey, including Adiyaman and Diyarbakir, according to the private Turkish NTV channel, which raised fears of more victims.
International aid
"All our teams are on alert. We have issued a level four alert, this is an appeal" for international assistance, Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu told Haberturk.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed in a statement that "President Joe Biden directed the US Agency for International Development and other federal government partners to evaluate response options for the areas most affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria."
He said the United States was deeply concerned about reports of the devastating earthquake.
Turkey is located in a region with seismic activity that is among the highest in the world.
The earthquake occurred at 4:17 (01:17 GMT) at a depth of about 17.9 km, according to the US Geological Survey.
The epicenter of the earthquake is located in the Pazardik region in the Turkish province of KahramanmaraÅŸ (southeast).
The German Center for Geosciences Research indicated that the earthquake occurred at a depth of ten kilometers near the city of KahramanmaraÅŸ in southern Turkey.
While the European Mediterranean Seismological Center said that it is assessing the possibility of a giant tsunami.
This tremor is the largest in Turkey since the August 17, 1999 earthquake, which killed 17,000 people, including a thousand in Istanbul, according to "Agence France Presse."
And in late November, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck northwest Turkey, leaving about fifty injured and causing limited damage, according to Turkish ambulance services.
In January 2020, a 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck the Elazig region, killing more than 40 people.
In October of the same year, a 7-magnitude earthquake struck the Aegean Sea, killing 114 people and injuring more than a thousand others.
