Two strong earthquakes within hours this Monday sowed death and destruction across a vast area in southern Turkey and northwestern Syria, destroying buildings such as houses of cards and leaving thousands trapped under rubble. In Turkey, the death toll is approaching 3,400, and at least 1,500 people have died in Syria.
The first earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale occurred early in the morning and had an epicenter on the outskirts of the Turkish city of Gaziantep, at a depth of 17.9 km. It lasted more than a minute and led to the collapse of thousands of buildings. Many people were sleeping and had no chance to escape, as they were buried under the rubble. The quake also hit northwest Syria hard, a region already badly devastated by a civil war that has been going on for more than a decade. There are records of massive destruction and hundreds of casualties in Aleppo, Latakia, Hama and Tartus.
Hours after the first quake, and at a time when rescuers were desperate to find survivors, a second quake of magnitude 7.7 rocked the same region, this time with its epicenter in the Elbistan region in neighboring Kahramanmaras province, causing a collapse. hundreds of buildings affected by the first earthquake. Seismologists indicated that this was the second earthquake on a different tectonic fault, and not a copy of the first earthquake.
Turkish authorities have warned that the death toll is bound to rise as it was the worst earthquake recorded in the country in almost a century. Rain and snow complicate rescue efforts, and severe cold significantly reduces the chances of survival of people left under the rubble.
Portugal provided rescue assistance under the European Civil Protection Mechanism, the interior minister said. INEM is in standby mode.
The Turkish authorities have opened an air corridor to send humanitarian aid and rescue teams to the region.
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Portugal provided rescue assistance under the European Civil Protection Mechanism, the interior minister said. INEM is in standby mode.
mobilization of international assistance
The Turkish authorities have opened an air corridor to send humanitarian aid and rescue teams to the region.
Author: Ricardo Ramos
Source: CM Jornal
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