7.8 magnitude earthquake rocks Turkey, Syria

7.8 magnitude earthquake rock’s Turkey, Syria

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria

More than 500 people have been killed in two countries after a powerful 7.8  magnitude earthquake rocked southern Turkey early Monday.

At least 284 people have died and more than 2,300 were injured in Turkey, according to the country’s Vice President Fuat Oktay.

In Syria, at least 237 people were killed and 639 injured, Syrian state-run news agency SANA reported, citing a Health Ministry official.

Strong earthquake struck in early hours near Gaziantep at a depth of almost 18kilometres.

The total death toll across Turkey and Syria is now at least 521.

Aljazera reports that Turkey Vice President says flights have been suspended in the cities of Gaziantep and Hatay.

The quake is one of the strongest to hit Turkey in more than 100 years and sent tremors across the region, collapsing buildings and sending residents running into the streets.

More than 1,700 buildings were damaged across 10 Turkish cities, the Turkish vice president said.

The Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) said its hospitals in Syria “are overwhelmed with patients filling the hallways” following the powerful earthquake that struck Monday.

“There is an immediate need for trauma supplies and a comprehensive emergency response,” the relief organization said in a statement.
“Many hospitals are full, but some critical facilities, including Al Dana Hospital had to evacuate patients after sustaining severe damage from the earthquake. Likewise, the Idleb Maternity Hospital was forced to transfer all newborns to a nearby hospital.”

SAMS’ president Dr. Amjad Rass said the organization has been receiving victims and working to guarantee the wellbeing of more than 1,700 staff in Syria and 90 in Gaziantep, Turkey.

The death toll across Turkey and Syria stands at more than 300, with nearly 2,000 reported injured after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit southern Turkey.

The situation is dice and catastrophy.

However, assistance is coming from AU and US. Several countries are ready to help.

The earthquake has been described as an international disaster.

Source: CNN