The total death toll between Turkey and Syria due to the extremely violent earthquake that hit both countries yesterday has risen to more than 6,200. This is what emerges from the municipalities’ calculations and the budget seems destined to continue to rise, as we continue to look under the rubble. In Turkey, according to the emergency management agency, the dead have exceeded 4,500, while the injured are around 26,000. In Syria, the toll in government-controlled areas provided by the Ministry of Health is 800 dead and 1,400 wounded, while in the rebel-held northwest the toll provided by the White Helmets is at least 900 dead and more than 2,300 wounded.
The earthquake provoked the collapse of thousands of buildings, in a veritable apocalypse between southern Turkey and Syria. While the rescue operations continue, very difficult also due to the vastness of the affected area, it is feared that new and violent aftershocks will occur. “Unfortunately, it is very likely that in the next two to three weeks, new aftershocks will occur quite frequently, especially in areas close to the epicenter. Normally, however, aftershocks should decrease over time, as well as their intensity should decrease,” he said. explained to LaPresse Dr. Patricia Martínez-Garzón, specialist at the Gfz geophysical research center in Potsdam. According to the researcher “another earthquake with an intensity greater than 7 is unlikely to be repeated, but we cannot completely exclude it”. “There is a precedent: that of the 7.6 magnitude earthquake in 1999, also in Turkey, in which 17,000 people died. In that case, ninety days later, there was another 7.1 magnitude earthquake,” she added.
Source: IL Tempo
John Cameron is a journalist at The Nation View specializing in world news and current events, particularly in international politics and diplomacy. With expertise in international relations, he covers a range of topics including conflicts, politics and economic trends.
