At least 1,700 people are believed to have died after two earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria.The confirmed death toll from this earthquake in Turkey has now risen to 1,014, the head of the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority has said.
The death toll in Syria now stands at 783, according to the AFP news agency, which has been combining figures from authorities in government-held areas with those from rescue group The White Helmets in rebel-held areas.
The figures bring the combined total to at least 1,797. Information is still emerging about the impact of a second quake that hit Turkey’s Kahramanmaras province just hours after the first struck near the city of Gaziantep, around 80 miles south.
At least 70 people had already been confirmed as killed in Kahramanmaras before the second quake hit. The current death tolls are expected to rise as recovery efforts continue.
The leaders of countries around the world have pledged to send support to help rescue efforts in Turkey and Syria.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement: “My thoughts are with the people of Türkiye and Syria this morning, particularly with those first responders working so valiantly to save those trapped by the earthquake. The UK stands ready to help in whatever way we can.”
French President Emmanuel Macron described the images coming from both countries as “terrible” and said France “stands ready to provide emergency aid”, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his country mourned with the relatives of those killed and “will of course send help”.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu sent his condolences to the citizens of Turkey and said he had instructed “all authorities to prepare immediately to provide medical, rescue and rescue assistance”.
The Indian government said that 100 disaster response personnel as well as specially-trained dog squads were ready to be flown to the areas affected, and that medical teams and supplies were also being prepared.