A catastrophic earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck southeastern Turkey and northwestern Syria in the early hours of Monday, leaving a trail of destruction and loss of life. The pre-dawn quake was centered in the town of Pazarcik and was followed by several powerful aftershocks that further exacerbated the damage.
According to officials, the death toll has reached over 11,000, with many more missing and feared dead. The extent of the disaster has left thousands of buildings in ruins, with rescue workers struggling to search for survivors amidst the rubble.
The quake struck at a depth of 10 km and was felt across a wide area, including in the cities of Gaziantep, Malatya, and Adana in Turkey and in the Syrian cities of Aleppo and Idlib. Reports indicate that many buildings, including homes, schools, and hospitals, have collapsed, leaving countless families displaced and in dire need of assistance.
The response to the disaster has been swift, with rescue and relief efforts underway on both sides of the border. Teams of paramedics and volunteers are working tirelessly to save those trapped in the rubble and provide aid to those in need. The Turkish government has declared a state of emergency in the affected provinces and is working closely with international organizations to coordinate the response.
More than 20,000 responders are currently working in Turkey from over 45 countries doing search and rescue operations.