
Turkey, Syria Earthquake live updates: Third massive earthquakes jolt Turkey, Syria in 24 hours; over 1,900 killed, scores trapped
Turkey, Syria earthquake news: A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked wide swaths of Turkey and Syria early Monday, toppling hundreds of buildings and killing more than 1,900 people. Hundreds were still believed to be trapped under rubble, and the toll was expected to rise as rescue workers searched mounds of wreckage in cities and towns across the area. On both sides of the border, residents jolted out of sleep by the pre-dawn quake rushed outside on a cold, rainy and snowy night. Buildings were reduced to piles of pancaked floors, and major aftershocks or new quakes, including one nearly as strong as the first, continued to rattle the region.
Earthquake in Syria: Earthquake piles misery on war-ravaged Syrians in wintry north
Wailing children, flattened buildings and hospitals full of bodies – a devastating earthquake on Monday looked painfully familiar for Syrian families and rescuers worn down by nearly 12 years of bombardment and displacement.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake sent people rushing into the streets in the country’s north, where air strikes and shelling have already traumatised the population and weakened the foundations of many buildings.
In the rebel-held town of Jandaris in Aleppo province, a mound of concrete, steel rods and bundles of clothes lay where a multi-storey building once stood.
19:18 (IST) Feb 06
Earthquake in Turkey and Syria: Powerful quake rocks Turkey and Syria, kills more than 1,900
A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked wide swaths of Turkey and Syria early Monday, toppling hundreds of buildings and killing more than 1,900 people. Hundreds were still believed to be trapped under rubble, and the toll was expected to rise as rescue workers searched mounds of wreckage in cities and towns across the area.
On both sides of the border, residents jolted out of sleep by the pre-dawn quake rushed outside on a cold, rainy and snowy night. Buildings were reduced to piles of pancaked floors, and major aftershocks or new quakes, including one nearly as strong as the first, continued to rattle the region.
19:11 (IST) Feb 06
Earthquake news: US Prez Biden ‘deeply saddened’ by Turkey, Syria quake; pledges US aid
US President Joe Biden said he was “deeply saddened” and promised his country’s assistance Monday after a major 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, killing nearly 1,800 people.”I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by the earthquake in Turkiye and Syria. I have directed my team to continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with Turkiye and provide any and all needed assistance,” the president tweeted from his official account.19:08 (IST) Feb 06
Turkey earthquake: The strong earthquake toppled buildings in Turkey and was felt elsewhere in the Middle East.
Turkey lies in one of the world’s most active seismic zones and is crossed by numerous fault lines. The disaster affected several southern Turkish provinces stretching hundreds of kilometers, where about 13 million people are bracing for colder winter temperatures. Erdogan, who is facing general elections in May, dispatched several cabinet ministers to the area.
Some parts of the local gas network were hit, stopping supply to Gaziantep, Hatay and Kahramanmaras provinces, Turkish state pipeline company Botas said.
Turkey hopes to restore gas flows within 48 hours, the Turkish official with direct knowledge of the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
19:05 (IST) Feb 06
Kahramanmaras earthquake: WHO helping massive Turkey relief effort
The death toll is rising from a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit southeast Turkey and northern Syria early on Monday. Hundreds were killed in the two countries, thousands were injured and the toll was expected to rise further. The World Health Organization says it is helping a massive international effort to support Turkey and Syria deal with devastating earthquake damage and is in contact with Turkish authorities.18:46 (IST) Feb 06
Turkey earthquake: Another earthquake of magnitude 6.0 strikes central Turkey, says USGS
This is the Third earthquake in Turkey after two powerful earthquakes in less than 24 hours18:43 (IST) Feb 06
Turkey earthquake: Pope ‘deeply saddened’ by tragedy
The Vatican said that Pope Francis was “deeply saddened” by a major earthquake in Turkey and Syria that has killed more than 1,600 people. “His Holiness Pope Francis was deeply saddened to learn of the huge loss of life caused by the earthquake… he sends the assurance of his spiritual closeness to all those affected,” wrote the Vatican’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin in a statement.18:40 (IST) Feb 06
Earthquake in Syria: Netanyahu says Syria requests quake relief, Israel ready to send it
Israel said on Monday that it had received a Syrian request for assistance with earthquake relief for the Arab state and that it was prepared to oblige, in what would be rare cooperation between the enemy neighbours.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech he had ordered Israeli aid sent to Turkey, the epicentre of Monday’s earthquake, with the airlifts due to depart toward evening.
18:02 (IST) Feb 06
Earthquake in Turkey: Powerful quake rocks Turkey and Syria, kills more than 1,500
A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked wide swaths of Turkey and Syria early Monday, toppling hundreds of buildings and killing more than 1,500 people. Hundreds were still believed to be trapped under rubble, and the toll was expected to rise as rescue workers searched mounds of wreckage in cities and towns across the area.On both sides of the border, residents jolted out of sleep by the pre-dawn quake rushed outside on a cold, rainy and snowy night. Buildings were reduced to piles of pancaked floors, and major aftershocks continued to rattle the region.17:40 (IST) Feb 06
Currently no tsunami threat to Eastern Mediterranean sea after two powerful earthquakes jolted southern Turkey, reports Turkey’s Anadolu news agency17:31 (IST) Feb 06
It was not immediately clear how much damage had been done by the second quake, also felt across the region as rescue workers were struggling to pull casualties from rubble in bitter weather.17:30 (IST) Feb 06
The magnitude 7.8 quake, which hit in the early darkness of a winter morning, worst to strike Turkey this century. It was also felt in Cyprus and Lebanon. It was followed in the early afternoon by another large quake, magnitude 7.7.
17:30 (IST) Feb 06
More than 1,400 people were killed and thousands injured on Monday when a huge earthquake struck central Turkey and northwest Syria, pulversing apartment blocks and heaping more destruction on Syrian cities already devastated by years of war.16:43 (IST) Feb 06
Turkey earth quake: Ukraine says ready to send ‘large group’ of rescuers to Turkey
Ukraine said Monday it was ready to send emergency responders to Turkey following a deadly earthquake there that also left hundreds dead in neighbouring Syria.”Ukraine stands ready to send a large group of rescue workers to Turkey to assist crisis response. We are working closely with the Turkish side to coordinate their deployment,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter.16:34 (IST) Feb 06
Earthquake piles misery on war-ravaged Syrians in wintry north
Wailing children, flattened buildings and hospitals full of bodies – a devastating earthquake on Monday looked painfully familiar for Syrian families and rescuers worn down by nearly 12 years of bombardment and displacement.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake sent people rushing into the streets in the country’s north, where air strikes and shelling have already traumatised the population and weakened the foundations of many buildings.
In the rebel-held town of Jandaris in Aleppo province, a mound of concrete, steel rods and bundles of clothes lay where a multi-storey building once stood.
16:32 (IST) Feb 06
Fresh earthquake rattles Damascus, Latakia other Syrian provinces, reports Syria’s SANA news agency
6:32 (IST) Feb 06
Another fresh earthquake of magnitude 7.6 struck Elbistan district in Kahramanmaraş Province in southern Turkey, reports Turkey’s Anadolu news agency citing country’s disaster agency.16:23 (IST) Feb 06
JUST IN | Second 7.5 magnitude earthquake in central Turkey16:14 (IST) Feb 06
Turkey earthquake: Israel prepared to aid Syrian victims of earthquake, Netanyahu says
Israel is prepared to extend its aid to earthquake-struck Turkey to Syrian victims as well, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday, in a rare overture to the enemy Arab state.
“I ordered to send, at the request of the Turkish government, rescue teams and medical aid,” Netanyahu said at a ceremony in a hospital near Tel Aviv. “Since a request was also received to do this for many victims of the earthquake in Syria, I instructed to do this as well,” he said.
Netanyahu did not elaborate on who had made the request regarding Syria.
16:13 (IST) Feb 06
Turkey earthquake: international support and offers of aid
Dozens of governments and international organisations have responded with offers of support after an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck central Turkey and northwest Syria.Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that 45 countries had offered help with search and rescue efforts.Below is a list of some of those announcements of support:
15:58 (IST) Feb 06
Turkish president raises quake death toll to 912, bringing overall death toll in Turkey, Syria to more than 1,300, reports AP15:53 (IST) Feb 06
Quake death toll in Turkey soars to 912: Erdogan15:52 (IST) Feb 06
Just in: Quake kills 326 in government-controlled areas of Syria (new toll)15:40 (IST) Feb 06
15:17 (IST) Feb 06
Deeply pained to learn that the devastating earthquake has also affected Syria. My sincere condolences to the families of the victims. We share the grief of Syrian people and remain committed to provide assistance and support in this difficult time
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India
15:16 (IST) Feb 06
Turkey earthquake: Putin says Russia ready to help Syria and Turkey following quake
President Vladimir Putin offered Russian assistance on Monday to Syria and Turkey. Russia has strong relations with both Syria and Turkey. Putin backed President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war and has a strong rapport with President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, a NATO member which has sought to mediate in the Ukraine war.15:13 (IST) Feb 06
Meeting held to discuss relief measures
In light of PM Narendra Modi’s instructions to offer all possible assistance to cope with earthquake in Turkey today, a meeting was held in to discuss immediate relief measures.15:06 (IST) Feb 06
India to rush trained doctors, paramedics, essential medicines: PMO
Medical Teams are also being readied with trained doctors and paramedics with essential medicines. Relief material will be dispatched in coordination with the Government of Turkey and Indian Embassy in Ankara and Consulate General office in Istanbul, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Monday.
4:48 (IST) Feb 06
Turkey earthquake: India to send 2 NDRF teams comprising 100 personnel
Two NDRF teams comprising 100 personnel with specially trained dog squads and necessary equipment are ready to be flown to the earthquake-hit area for search and rescue operations, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement on Monday.14:37 (IST) Feb 06
Strongest quake in decades
Monday’s was the strongest earthquake in Turkey since 1939, when a powerful temblor struck eastern city of Erzincan and killed about 33,000 people, according to Okan Tuysuz, a professor of geology at Istanbul Technical University. The country lies in one of the world’s most active seismic zones and is crossed by numerous fault lines.14:26 (IST) Feb 06
Air aid corridor for earthquake zone
Turkish defence ministry says the armed forces of the country have set up air aid corridor to the earthquake zone