SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region — A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Turkey and Syria on Monday, killing over 4,300 people and leaving more than 20,000 injured, according to officials in both countries.
In Turkey, at minimum 2,921 fatalities have been recorded and in Turkey, 1,444 fatalities have been reported in Syria. The number of deaths is expected to increase further.
The historic shake has prompted immediate action from rescue teams who are working tirelessly to save lives and pull bodies from beneath the rubble.
The earthquake, which struck at around 4:20 am local time, was felt across a wide area and caused widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure.
According to Turkish Interior Minister Suleymon Soylu, the hardest-hit cities were Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras, Hatay, Osmaniye, Adiyaman, Malatya, Sanliurfa, Adana, Diyarbakir and Kilis.
Among the hardest hit cities in Syria, according to the Syrian health ministry, are Aleppo, Hama, and Lattakia. The vibrations were also felt in Cyprus, Egypt, and Lebanon.
Rescue teams have been working non-stop since the earthquake struck, using heavy machinery and their bare hands to search for survivors and remove the dead from the rubble.
In many cases, they have found people alive, including children and elderly individuals, who were trapped in the wreckage.
A miraculous moment was caught on video as a woman was pulled out alive from the debris in #Turkey's Kahramanmaras province following the earthquake
🎥: AA pic.twitter.com/oO4KI7LiVq
— Zoom News (@zoomnewskrd) February 6, 2023
In the aftermath of the earthquake, Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, extended his condolences to the families of the victims.
“My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the earthquake that struck our region early morning. I extend my condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones, and wish a quick recovery to the wounded,” Barzani tweeted.
My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the earthquake that struck our region early morning. I extend my condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones, and wish a quick recovery to the wounded
— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) February 6, 2023
Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, offered his condolences to the victims’ families and pledged support for rescue efforts.
“My thoughts are with the families of the victims and the injured whose lives have been affected by last night’s earthquake across the region. The KRG stands ready to help with rescue efforts,” PM Barzani tweeted.
My thoughts are with the families of the victims and the injured whose lives have been affected by last night’s earthquake across the region.
The KRG stands ready to help with rescue efforts.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) February 6, 2023
The devastating earthquake has left buildings in ruins, leaving many trapped under the rubble, and the death toll is expected to rise in the coming days.
Last updated: Tuesday 7:30 a.m.
