The race against time continues, Tuesday, February 7, in Turkey and in northern Syria to extricate survivors of the violent earthquakes which ravaged the region on Monday, leaving several thousand dead. According to the latest official report, which is likely to increase, twenty-four hours after the first of the three big tremors, more than 4,300 people have died, including 2,921 in Turkey, according to the public disaster management body (Afad), and more than 1,440 in Syria, according to the government and the rescuers.
Three big jolts. Several new earthquakes were recorded on Monday and overnight. An aftershock, of magnitude 5.5, was recorded at 4:13 a.m. this morning near Gölbasi, in southern Turkey. On Monday, an even stronger quake, of magnitude 7.5, hit southeastern Turkey at midday. Its epicenter was located near the Turkish town of Ekinozu, about a hundred kilometers north of the former.
Help from all over the world. “France stands ready to provide emergency aid to the populations on the spot”announced Emmanuel Macron, referring to “terrible pictures”. Monday evening, 139 civil security rescuers will fly to Turkey, detailed the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin. Seven other countries of the European Union will send rescuers. Many other countries have offered assistance, including Ukraine and Russia.
The epicenter near Syria. The epicenter of the first earthquake is located in the district of Pazarcik, in southeastern Turkey, about 60 km as the crow flies from the Syrian border. During the day on Monday, no less than 185 aftershocks were recorded, following the first two tremors: one of 7.8 which occurred in the middle of the night (4:17 a.m. local time), the other, of magnitude 7.5, at mid -day, both in southeastern Turkey. Several aftershocks were recorded in the night, Tuesday before dawn. The strongest, of magnitude 5.5, was recorded at 6:13 a.m. local time (3:13 a.m. GMT) 9 km southeast of Gölbasi (south).