Turkey, Syria Earthquake Death Toll Rises Over 5,000

Over 5,000 people died as several buildings collapsed because of multiple powerful earthquakes of an average magnitude of 7.0 that hit Turkey and Syria on Monday. The death toll in this earthquake will be much higher as more bodies are being recovered from the rubble. Turkish authorities urged for international assistance.

Over 15,000 injured were reported so far. This is expected to rise sharply because several are still trapped under the rubble. At least 130 buildings collapsed in Turkey’s Malatya province, close to the epicentre of the quake.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish at the loss of lives and damage to property due to the earthquake in Turkey and offered all possible assistance to cope with this tragedy.

There is a major fault line under Turkey that shakes the country frequently with earthquakes.

The quake on Monday was one of the most powerful to hit the region in at least a century.

It was a pre-dawn quake. So, most people were sleeping when the tremors collapsed the buildings.

According to the US Geological Survey, powerful earthquakes measuring 7.8, 7.5, 6.7 and 6.0 on the Richter Scale struck Southern Turkey on Monday.