In unprecedented scenes, an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck two countries – Turkey and Syria – early Monday, killing more than 2,300 people – more than 1,500 in Turkey and at least 810 in Syria. The earthquake caused widespread damage in both countries, including fires at fuel pipelines and oil refineries.
In today’s DNA, Zee News’ Rohit Ranjan analyzes the cause and effect of earthquakes in Syria and Turkey.
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck near Gaziantep, Turkey, early Monday (local time) and tremors were felt across the Middle East from Cairo to Beirut to Baghdad. It also prompted Italy to declare a tsunami alert. The new 7.5-magnitude quake occurred at around 1.30 p.m. local time and was described by officials as a new quake, not an aftershock.
The death toll in Turkey alone has risen to 1,541, while more than 9,700 people have been injured after three earthquakes. The two tremors were followed by 145 aftershocks, three of which were over 6 on the Richter scale. Syria’s figures put the toll above 800.
The pictures of the affected areas were horrifying – so much so that it is almost impossible to differentiate between them and Hollywood movies with high VFX effects. Ground-zero video showed widespread destruction of public and private property, including some ancient cultural sites and traumatized people. People, who were lucky enough to escape into the open, were seen crying about their kin still trapped under the rubble of the collapsed buildings as others tried to console and assure.
In both countries, the earthquake caused damage to major infrastructure. In Turkey’s Kilis province, natural gas pipelines explode, sparking flames as fuel explodes, with footage circulating online. Operator Bottas said it cut off the flow, but the pressurized gas in the pipeline continued to fuel the fire.
If an earthquake like Turkey hit India… see #DNA Live @irohitr with
+ To whom no one is giving ‘begging’..he wants Kashmir
+The earthquake in Turkey…it is necessary to be afraid
+ The era of ‘Clean the brown hair’ returned in Bihar!#turkey #shahbazsharif#A state in Eastern India https://t.co/XFo3XVA5Oa– Zee News (@ZeeNews) February 6, 2023
In Syria, a refinery in the city of Baniyas, one of the country’s largest, was forced to shut down for at least 48 hours because of a crack in its power unit’s chimney, the Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources reported. Train services were also stopped as a precautionary measure.
Leaders of countries around the world have pledged to send support to Turkey and help rescue efforts in Syria, while the United Nations observed a minute’s silence.