|
|
|
|
|
24 February 2023
|
Turkey earthquake: Deadly new tremor traps people under rubble
Rescuers are once again searching for people trapped under rubble in Turkey after another earthquake hit the country on Monday, 20 February 2023, killing at least six people. A 6,4 magnitude tremor struck near the city of Antakya near the border with Syria, where massive quakes devastated both countries on 6 February 2023. Turkey's disaster and emergency agency says the 6,4 earthquake occurred at 20h04 local time at a depth of 10km. This was followed by a 5,8 aftershock three minutes later and dozens of subsequent aftershocks that were not as severe.
The health minister, Dr Fahrettin Koca, said 294 people have been injured, 18 of them seriously.
The earlier quakes killed more than 44 000 people in Turkey and Syria with tens of thousands more left homeless. Buildings weakened by those tremors collapsed in both countries on Monday. It's thought the death toll has been relatively low this time because the earthquake struck in an area that was largely empty after it was badly hit by the 6 February quake.
Reports from the city of Antakya spoke of fear and panic in the streets as ambulances and rescue crews tried to reach the worst affected areas where the walls of badly damaged buildings had collapsed.
In Syria, some 470 injured people are said to have visited hospitals after Monday's quakes, which were also reportedly felt in Egypt and Lebanon.
Rescue operations have recently been wound down in all but two areas, with hopes of finding people alive fading fast. The probability of finding more people alive has fallen considerably and the focus has now shifted to providing essential support for survivors who have lost their homes, belongings, livelihoods and loved ones.
Sources: BBC, Red Cross
The health minister, Dr Fahrettin Koca, said 294 people have been injured, 18 of them seriously.
The earlier quakes killed more than 44 000 people in Turkey and Syria with tens of thousands more left homeless. Buildings weakened by those tremors collapsed in both countries on Monday. It's thought the death toll has been relatively low this time because the earthquake struck in an area that was largely empty after it was badly hit by the 6 February quake.
Reports from the city of Antakya spoke of fear and panic in the streets as ambulances and rescue crews tried to reach the worst affected areas where the walls of badly damaged buildings had collapsed.
In Syria, some 470 injured people are said to have visited hospitals after Monday's quakes, which were also reportedly felt in Egypt and Lebanon.
Rescue operations have recently been wound down in all but two areas, with hopes of finding people alive fading fast. The probability of finding more people alive has fallen considerably and the focus has now shifted to providing essential support for survivors who have lost their homes, belongings, livelihoods and loved ones.
Sources: BBC, Red Cross
