At Least 6 Dead, Hundreds Injured As Turkey And Syria Hit By Second Powerful Earthquake

Topline

At least six people died and many remained trapped under collapsed buildings after southern Turkey and northern Syria were rocked by a powerful earthquake Monday, just two weeks after the region was struck by one of the most devastating temblors in more than a decade that resulted in the deaths of nearly 47,000 people.

Key Facts

Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said at least 294 people were injured, 18 of whom are in critical condition.

The toll could rise further as local officials say some people are trapped under debris.

At least six people were injured in the Syrian city of Aleppo, controlled by the Assad regime, while more than 130 injured people were reported in the areas controlled by the rebel White Helmets.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the epicenter of the 6.3 magnitude temblor was located in Turkey’s Hatay province, which had been severely hit by the February 6 earthquake.

AFAD said it has dispatched 6,000 new tents to the region affected by Monday’s earthquake as many people continue to sleep outdoors due to fear of building collapses.

Section Title

46,970. That is the total number of deaths from the February 6 earthquake that have been reported so far. 41,156 deaths have been reported in Turkey along with 5,814 in Syria.

Key Background

Monday’s quake comes just days after search and rescue operations seeking survivors from the first earthquake were called off. A family of three—a father, a mother and a 12-year-old boy—from Hatay were the last survivors to be pulled from the debris. Rescue workers are now working to extract people trapped under rubble following the second quake. With the death toll approaching 50,000 the 7.8 magnitude earthquake from earlier this month is now the world’s worst natural disaster since the 2010 Haiti earthquakes.

Further Reading

New 6.4-magnitude quake hits southern Türkiye, killing 6 (Hürriyet Daily News)

New quake hits battered Turkey, Syria; 3 dead, hundreds hurt (Associated Press)