Turkey-Syria Earthquake: Death Toll Surpasses 5000 as Rescue Operation Continues in Harsh Weather Condition

News Highlights

• Death toll from devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria rises to 5,000 and expected to rise further due to heavy down pour that interferes with rescue operation.

• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appeals to international communities for help.

• United States and other countries begin sending relief materials, medical personnel and rescue teams into the affected region.

• World leaders send their prayers and condolences to Turkey.

• Ghana International, Christian Atsu rescued from the earthquake rubbles after hours of search.

Death Toll from the Earthquake in Turkey and Syria  Continues to Rise

The death toll from devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria has risen to 5,000 and is expected to rise further as heavy snowfall hampers rescue operations.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the South-eastern region of Turkey bordering Syria early on Monday night, about 4.17 am (1.17GMT), while people were still asleep, and extended to some part of Syria.

The earthquake caused widespread destruction, killing many and leaving thousands of inhabitants homeless. The earthquake was followed by a 7.5-magnitude tremor that hit at around 13:30 local time (10:30 GMT).

The epicenter of the first quake was at Pazarcik district of Kahramanmaras Province near the Gaziantep Province in Turkey, which is one of the worst hit, while the second tremor began near Ekinozu and expand to Syria. Syrian cities greatly impacted by the earthquake are Aleppo, Tartus, Hama, and Latakia. The effect of the tremor was reportedly felt as far as Cairo, Israel and Lebanon.

Turkish disaster agency reports that over 3,381 people were killed in Turkey alone after the first quake, and about 15,000-22,000 were injured in the process while about 1500 are reported died in Syria.

The recent update from BBC places total dead toll from Turkey and Syria to 4,890, while other sources place the death toll value above 5000. Syrian Civil Defense, the White helmet, reported 740 deaths in opposition-controlled areas of the country alone. The death toll has risen steadily since the quake ended, with many people still missing.

Massive Rescue operations and Aids Heighten Amidst Heavy Rainfall and Snow

Videos show crowds crying and shouting as dead bodies and injured victims are brought out from rubble traps. Others use everything they find including bare hands, shovels to dig through the rubbles in search of survivors and bodies. Meanwhile, reports say that heavy rainfall and snow has interfered with the ongoing rescue operations in the country involving over 53,000 rescuers.

The international red cross, medical personnel and rescuers from different parts of the world including US, Europe, India and South Korea are moving into the region to attend to the casualties and assist the rescue operation.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared state of emergency in the region and called for a national effort to help those affected by the earthquake. He has also asked international communities for help as the country is out of aid resources. He added that the government will do whatever is necessary to help those affected.

The United States and allies have began sending relief materials into the country. Thousands of tents, over 300,000 blankets, and other relief supplies have been distributed to those affected by the earthquake. Emergency shelters have been set up to provide refuge to the homeless.

The earthquake is the deadliest to hit Turkey in decades. The last major quake to hit the country was in 1999, when an earthquake in the city of Izmit left nearly 18,000 people dead.

Condolences from World Leaders Stream into Turkey

Condolences and prayers has continued to flow into Turkey from different parts of the world. The US president, Joe Biden in a tweet said,

"I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by the earthquake in Turkiye and Syria.

I have directed my team to continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with Turkiye and provide any and all needed assistance."

Other world leaders from across Europe and Asia have also sent their prayers and words of comforts.

Ghana Football Superstar, Christian Atsu, Rescued

Meanwhile, Ghana International, Christian Atsu has been rescued from the earthquake rubbles after hours of searches. In our earlier report, Atsu was declared missing on Monday after the devastated earthquake and a rescue operation and prayers were going on to locate in.

Our recent findings show that the former New Castle winger was found alive in the rubbles hours ago but with several degrees of injuries.

Our heart goes to the people affected by the earthquake in both Turkey and Syria.