Turkiye, Syria Earthquake: Death Toll Crosses 4,300. First Batch Of Relief Supplies, NDRF Teams Leaves From India — Top Points

The quake claimed the lives of 2,921 people in Turkish provinces with about 16,000 injured while the death toll in government-held areas of Syria reached 656 with some 1,400 injured.

New Delhi: Over 4,300 people have been reported dead in Turkiye and Syria after a powerful earthquake with magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale hit southern Turkiye in the early hours of Monday followed by two more shocks of intensity 7.6 and 6.

As per a report by the Associated Press, the authorities feared the death toll to rise as rescuers looked for survivors among tangles of metal and concrete spread across the region beset by Syria’s 12-year civil war and refugee crisis.

According to the latest figures, the quake claimed the lives of 2,921 people in Turkish provinces with about 16,000 injured while the death toll in government-held areas of Syria reached 656 with some 1,400 injured, stated the AP report. 

At least 450 people were reported dead in Syria’s rebel-held northwest region. 

India Sends First Batch Of NDRF Teams, Relief Supplies

The first batch of relief materials along with National Disaster Response Force Search & Rescue teams, specially trained dog squads, medical supplies, drilling machines and other necessary equipment were dispatched from India early this morning, informed Ministry of External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi on Twitter. 

Hours after the earthquake, PM Modi had expressed his grief over the loss of lives and had said to extend all possible assistance to Turkiye and Syria. 

Biden Speaks To Erdogan, US Sends 79-Person Search & Rescue Teams 

United States President Joe Biden spoke to Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan on Monday and expressed condolence. The White House in a statement said that Biden underscored “the readiness of the United States to provide any and all needed assistance” to its NATO ally Turkey.

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the Biden administration was sending two, 79-person urban search and rescue teams to support Turkey’s efforts.

At least 40 countries have extended aid and rescuers to the crisis-hit Turkiye and Syria including US, Russia, Israel, Greece, Germany, Britain, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Japan, India, South Korea, Mexico, Austria, Spain, Italy, and France.