Sunday 24 / November / 2024
(1: 00 pm) Over 900 dead in Turkey
The number of casualties due to the devastating earthquake has now crossed 900.
Speaking at a briefing, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that according to updated figures, 912 people had been confirmed dead while over 5,300 people had been injured
Health officials in Syria say the death toll has risen to more than 230 there.
"The earthquake toll rose to 237 killed and 639 injured," Ahmed Damiriyye, an aide to Syria's health minister, said on Syrian state television.
(12: 00 pm) The death toll has continued to rise rapidly following a strong earthquake which rocked southern Turkey and northern Syria in the early hours of Monday morning.
Turkey's Vice President Fuat Oktay said that 284 people were confirmed dead across 10 provinces, while more than 2,000 people have been injured.
Health officials in Syria say the death toll has risen to more than 230 there.
"The earthquake toll rose to 237 killed and 639 injured," Ahmed Damiriyye, an aide to Syria's health minister, said on Syrian state television.
The US Geological Service said a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck near the city of Gaziantep, a key industrial hub near the border with Syria.
Many apartment blocks were destroyed in Turkey's Kahramanmaras Province
Rescue efforts underway
Rescue workers have been deployed in Turkey and Syria to pull survivors from the rubble. Residents have also been helping search for survivors among the piles of rubble and debris.
Heavy snowfall was hampering rescue efforts in some parts with roads covered in ice and snow.
"I convey my best wishes to all our citizens who were affected by the earthquake," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter.
"We hope that we will get through this disaster together as soon as possible and with the least damage."
Tremors could also be felt as far as Lebanon, Cyprus, and Egypt.
Buildings destroyed in Turkey, Syria
According to early reports a large number of buildings have been destroyed in provinces in southern Turkey.
Turkey's vice president said in a briefing that around 1,700 building had collapsed.
Syria's state media also reported that some buildings had collapsed in Aleppo and the central city of Hama. Tremors were also felt in Damascus.
Civilian in parts of southern Turkey were forced out of their homes into the snow
(9: 30 am) At least 76 people have been killed across seven provinces in Turkey and 42 were reported dead in Syria in initial reports after a deadly earthquake struck 23 kilometers (14.2 miles) east of Nurdagi in Turkey's Gaziantep province on Monday, Anadolu Agency reported citing disaster management authorities.
"At least 76 people were killed, 440 injured over seven provinces as 7.4 earthquake hits southern provinces of Turkiye," Anadolu Agency tweeted citing The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of the country.
Meanwhile, Syrian state media SANA reported that close to 42 people lost their lives in the earthquake in Ankara and nearby regions, including the Syria-Lebanon border. Exams scheduled for Monday at least two Syrian universities have been postponed, SANA said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter that "search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched" to the areas hit by the quake.
