Civil society organizations in northern Syria said on Tuesday that the time has come to rescue hundreds of families trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings after Monday’s violent earthquake.
Key points
A civil defense organization known as the “White Helmets” in northwest Syria explained: “Every second means saving lives, and we appeal to all humanitarian organizations to immediately respond to this disaster and provide material aid.”
At least 1,444 people were killed and about 3,500 wounded in Syria, according to information from the Damascus government and civil defense elements in opposition-held northwest Syria.
Rescue teams continued to work early Tuesday to pull out people trapped under the rubble of buildings in southern Turkey as the country’s death toll neared three thousand.
Kahramanmaraş earthquake details
A 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey early on Monday and sent shock waves across Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, causing buildings to collapse and residents onto snow-covered streets.
The German Center for Geosciences Research said the earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers near the city of Kahramanmaras.
A Reuters witness in Diyarbakir, 350 kilometers to the east, said the quake lasted a minute and windows were shattered.
Earthquake in Turkey
Turkey is located in one of the most seismically active areas in the world.
In late November, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck northwest Turkey, injuring about fifty people and causing limited damage, according to Turkish ambulance services.
January 2020 also saw a 6.7 magnitude earthquake in Elazig region killing more than 40 people.
In October of the same year, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Aegean Sea, killing 114 and injuring more than a thousand.
Magnitude 7.5 earthquake
Affected countries: Cyprus, Türkiye, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Georgia, and Armenia
20 km from Elbistan/Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye
