Powerful earthquake in south-east of Turkey: 76 people killed, 440 people injured

As a result of an earthquake of magnitude 7.4 with an epicenter in the Pazardzhik region of the southeastern Turkish province of Kahramanmarash, as of 06.30 am on February 6, 76 people were killed and at least 440 injured in seven provinces of the country.

The tremors were felt in nearby provinces, mainly in Hatay, Osmaniyya, Adiyaman, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Malatya and Adana. The highest threat level has been declared in Turkey. The authorities have asked for international assistance.

The General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces has allocated two aircraft to transport aid and rescue teams to the disaster zone. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held telephone conversations with the governors of the provinces of Adana, Malatya, Gaziantep, Diyarbakir, Hatay, Adiyaman, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa.

The head of state was informed about consequences of the earthquake and the progress of search and rescue operations. The devastating earthquake in Turkey was also felt in neighboring countries, including Syria, Lebanon, the TRNC, Greek Cyprus and Iraq.

According to the latest data, at least a hundred people were killed in the Syrian provinces of Idlib, Aleppo, Hama, Latakia and Raqqa, and the search for hundreds is ongoing. -0-