Earthquakes: Turkey, Syria Confirm Over 2,300 Deaths

• Numbers of dead expected to keep rising rapidly
• Desperate search and rescue operations ongoing 
• US, UK, Israel, others sending humanitarian support
• Putin calls, consoles Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

The combined death toll in Turkey and Syria has risen to at least 2,300 from the two large earthquakes that rocked both countries early on Monday

At least 1,498 people were killed across 10 provinces of Turkey by the strong earthquake that jolted the south-east region with another 7,600 injured, according to the country’s emergency AFAD disaster management agency.

This is as the death toll in government-held areas of Syria also rose to more than 430 people, with 1,280 injured, according to data from the Health Ministry.

In the country’s north-west region where the government is not in control, groups that operate there said the death toll was at least 380, with many hundreds injured.

The number is expected to continue to rise rapidly, with many people believed to be trapped under rubble in collapsed buildings. Currently, desperate rescue operations are on ground as the number of dead rises substantially following the two quakes.

On its part, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) puts the death toll in the areas of north-west Syria that the government does not control at 255 killed and 811 injured.

The first quake struck as people slept overnight, and measured magnitude 7.8, one of the most powerful quakes in the region in at least a century. It was felt as far away as Cyprus and Cairo.

The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said preliminary data showed the second large quake measured 7.7 magnitude, and was 67km (42 miles) north-east of Kahramanmaraş.

In 1999, a tremor of similar magnitude to today’s quakes in Turkey devastated Izmit killing more than 17,000. Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip, Erdoğan has described it as the worst disaster for the country since 1939, when an earthquake killed more than 32,000 people and injured more than 100,000.

Putin Offers Condolences In Phone Call To al-Assad

Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad offered condolences for the victims of the earthquake that struck the country Monday.

Syria’s presidency said the Russian President also pledged to send rescue teams and assistance to Syria.

US Evaluates Response Options

The United States (US) is already responding to the humanitarian crisis after directing USAID and other federal government partners to urgently assess response options for the most affected areas in Turkey and Syria.

On Monday, secretary of state Antony Blinken said: “Our initial assistance response to Türkiye is already underway, and U.S.-supported humanitarian organizations in Syria are responding to the earthquakes’ effects across the country.

“We are determined to do all that we can to help those affected by these earthquakes in the days, weeks, and months ahead.”

UK Sending Aid To Turkey, Northern Syria – Cleverly

The UK is the latest country to announce it will send assistance to Turkey as well as northern Syria after an earthquake has left more than 1,300 people dead, with the death toll expected to climb.

Britain will send 76 search and rescue specialists, four search dogs and rescue equipment that will arrive in Turkey this evening, the British Foreign Ministry said, according to Reuters.

The foreign secretary, James Cleverly, tweeted: “The UK is sending immediate support to Turkiye (Turkey) including a team of 76 search & rescue specialists, equipment and rescue dogs. In Syria, the UK-funded White Helmets have mobilised their resources to respond. We stand ready to provide further support as needed.”

Israel To Assist Turkey, Syria – Prime Minister Netanyahu

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, Reuters reports.

Speaking at a ceremony in a hospital near Tel Aviv, Netanyahu said: “Since a request was also received to do this for many victims of the earthquake in Syria, I instructed to do this as well.”

In later televised remarks to his party, Netanyahu said the request for humanitarian relief for Syria had been relayed “by a diplomatic official” – whom he did not identify.

Netanyahu said: “I approved this, and I reckon that these things will be carried out soon.”

When asked who had made the request regarding Syria cited by Netanyahu, an Israeli official told Reuters: “The Syrians”. Asked if this referred to opposition members or to President Bashar al-Assad’s government, the official said only: “Syria”. – With The Guardian report