An earthquake, a first of magnitude 7.8 in southeastern Turkey, then a second of 7.5 in the same area, caused the death of at least 5,000 people on Monday February 6.
Terrible earthquake in Turkey. The earthquake, a first of magnitude 7.8, then an aftershock of magnitude 7.5, overnight from Sunday to Monday in southeastern Turkey killed more than 5,000 people in the two countries and very significant damage. According to the latest reports, at least 3,419 people have already lost their lives in Turkey in seven different provinces, according to the government agency for disaster management (Afad). Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said 2,828 buildings had collapsed, suggesting an even heavier toll. Nearly 16,000 injured are also to be deplored. According to the official Sana news agency, at least 1,602 people died in Syria and many injured are also to be deplored in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama and Tartous (government areas). The White Helmets, rescue workers who are in rebel areas, reported hundreds of dead and more than 1,000 injured, adding that this assessment was provisional.
In a statement, the Pope said he was “deeply saddened”. Despite the tensions between the two countries, Greece has promised “to make available all its forces” to help Turkey. According to the American seismological institute USGS, the earthquake took place at 04:17 local time (01:17 GMT), at a depth of approximately 17.9 kilometers. The epicenter is located in the district of Pazarcik, in the province of Kahramanmaras (southeast), about 60 km as the crow flies from the Syrian border. A new tremor was felt at the end of the morning, of magnitude 7.5. The earthquake occurred at 10:24 GMT, 4 km southeast of the Turkish town of Ekinozu, said the American seismological institute USGS.
