Earthquakes Struck Turkey

The first earthquake with 7.8 magnitudes struck Turkey early Monday when many people were still sleeping in their houses. A few hours later, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey again. Both earthquakes’ epicenters are not far from the Syrian border where government forces and rebels are still fighting. Turkey reported that almost 7,000 people died and 10,000 people were injured. The Syrian government and the rebels controlling areas reported that more than 2000 people died. Even though the earthquakes occurred in Turkey but Syria lost many lives because its public infrastructure deteriorated during the ongoing war.

Turkey called for international help to rescue the potential survivors. The weather and Syrian public infrastructure hamper the rescue mission. In Turkey alone, there are more than 7000 buildings collapsed or badly damaged. Rescuers run with the time to hope to discover the survivors under rubble with the outside temperature near zero. Some estimated that there are millions of people in urgent need of clothes, food, water, and other necessities both in Turkey and Syria. The US, UK, EU, and many countries send equipment and volunteers to help Turkey and Syria. Many countries’ leaders send condolences to the victims of both countries.

Turkey is the major hub of earthquakes but these two earthquakes are not near hub earthquakes. Scientists with modern equipment can’t predict when and where earthquakes will occur. The death toll is expected to rise in the next few days when rescuers clear all collapsed buildings. Nature is still a major factor to make life uncertain, please support victims and their relatives in whatever you can.