Guwahati: Second powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 struck Turkey on Monday, nine hours after the first one that devastated the country’s Pazarcik district and caused 912 fatalities and 5,383 injuries, according to the US Geological Survey.
“Notable quake, preliminary info: M 7.5 – 4 km SSE of Ekinozu, Turkey,” USGS said in a tweet.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquakes, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, were the nation’s “worst calamity” since 1939. According to Anadolu Agency, he said that 912 people had been murdered and 5,383 had been injured.
The Pazarcik region in the southern province of Kahramanmaras was the epicentre of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey around 4.17 a.m. (0117GMT), according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). The earthquake was 7 kilometres deep (4.3 miles).
78 aftershocks were recorded after the earthquake, according to AFAD.
According to Anadolu Agency, the provinces of Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Malatya, Osmaniye, Hatay, and Kilis are among the hardest hit.
“The number of people rescued from the rubbles has reached 2,470. The number of buildings that collapsed is 2,818,” Erdogan said.
Vice president Fuat Oktay at a press conference stated that Erdogan has been following reports and assessing the relief operations ever since the earthquake.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the world leaders expressed their condolences for the fatalities brought on by Monday’s powerful earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
“Anguished by the loss of lives and damage of property due to the Earthquake in Turkey. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. India stands in solidarity with the people of Turkey and is ready to offer all possible assistance to cope with this tragedy,” PM Modi tweeted.
Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda condoled the deaths caused by the massive temblor in Turkey and Syria on Monday.
“I am deeply saddened by the death of dozens of civilians in the devastating earthquake in Turkey. On behalf of the Government of Nepal and the people of Nepal, I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved people while paying emotional tributes to the deceased,” the Nepal PM tweeted.
The US National Security Advisor also took to Twitter to assure Turkey of timely assistance.
He tweeted, “The US is profoundly concerned by today’s destructive earthquake in Turkiye & Syria. I have been in touch with Turkish officials to relay that we stand ready to provide any & all needed assistance. We will continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with Turkiye.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also took to Twitter to extend his condolences to the kin of the earthquake victims.
“We stand with the people of Turkey at this difficult time. We are ready to provide the necessary assistance to overcome the consequences of the disaster,” Zelensky tweeted.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also tweeted his condolences to the people of Turkey and Syria in a series of tweets, according to CNN.
Israel President Isaac Herzog also condoled the loss of lives in Turkey and Syria on Twitter.
“The State of Israel always stands ready to assist in every way possible. Our hearts are with the grieving families and the Turkish people at this painful moment,” Herzog posted.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Galant said his nation was prepared to send emergency supplies to Turkey after it was shaken by one of the country’s strongest earthquakes in more than a decade.
One of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Turkey, Gaziantep Castle, was seriously damaged by the 7.8 earthquake and its aftershocks.