Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria kill more than 12,000

The death toll from Monday’s massive earthquake exceeds 12,000, with 9,057 in Turkey and 2,992 in Syria.

Rescue efforts continue to find survivors in the rubble.

Also, more than 58,000 people were injured in the two countries hit by the quake, many with broken bones and severe lacerations.

In Turkey, a total of 6,444 buildings in 10 southeastern provinces collapsed due to strong earthquakes, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who admitted this morning that authorities initially had some difficulties with rescue tasks.

There were some problems on the first day, but on the second and today things are under control; We are going to start clearing the rubble and our goal is to rebuild houses in Kahramanmaras and the other affected towns within a year.

Furthermore, Erdogan announced financial aid to the victims in the amount of 10,000 Turkish liras (10,038 Mexican pesos / $530) per victim.

In Syria, which has been embroiled in a civil war for more than a decade, information about the victims and those affected comes, on the one hand, from the government of Bashar al Asad and, on the other hand, from the last opposition-controlled enclave in the country, on the other side, surrounded by Russian-backed government forces.

So far, 1,262 people have been killed and another 2,285 injured in areas controlled by Damascus, while another 1,730 have been killed and 2,850 injured in opposition areas.

“The number is expected to increase sharply due to the presence of hundreds of families under the rubble of destroyed houses. Our teams are continuing rescue operations amid the difficult circumstances,” said the White Helmets rescue group, which is active in opposition areas.

In Damascus-controlled areas, nearly 300,000 people had to leave their homes because of the quake.

During Al Asad’s government, 180 emergency shelters were opened to house those affected and 157 mobile units were sent to the hardest hit provinces. (EFE)