Hundreds killed after strong quakes hit Turkiye, Syria
2023-02-06
People try to reach trapped residents in a collapsed building in Pazarcik, in Kahramanmaras province, southern Turkey, Feb 6, 2023. [Photo/VCG]
ANKARA - Two powerful earthquakes hit Turkiye early Monday, said the country's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).
A magnitude 7.4 quake struck the Pazarcik district of southern Kahramanmaras province at 04:17 (0117GMT), followed by another magnitude 6.4 quake which hit southern Gaziantep province at 04:26 (0126GMT), said the AFAD.
People search through rubble following an earthquake in Diyarbakir, Turkiye Feb 6, 2023. [Photo/Agencies]
The AFAD said that 76 people had been killed and 440 injured in the massive earthquakes that reverberated through several provinces in the south of the country.
"76 of our citizens lost their lives in Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Kahramanmaras, Gaziantep, and 440 citizens were injured in Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay and Kilis," AFAD said.
A man stands near a damaged vehicle, following an earthquake, in rebel-held Azaz, Syria Feb 6, 2023. [Photo/Agencies]
"We dispatched all our search and rescue teams to earthquake zones. We set the highest alert," Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told reporters.
Syria's deadly earthquake has so far killed 237 people and injured 639 others in four provinces, said the health ministry on Monday.
