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Earthquake death toll in Turkey and Syria surpasses 5,000

Reuters
Published on Feb. 7, 2023, 2:59 PM

More than 13 million people in Turkey have been affected by the strong earthquake that hit the Turkish-Syrian border region on Monday, according to government estimates.

The Red Cross Red Crescent is working to deliver emergency relief and to get help to those impacted by the earthquakes in Türkiye & Syria as quickly as possible. People in Canada wanting to help can donate to the Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria Appeal by clicking here.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Tuesday that the death toll from the earthquakes centred in southeastern Turkey rose to 3,419, bringing the total including those killed in Syria to more than 5,000.

RELATED: Why was the Turkey-Syria earthquake so bad?

Speaking to reporters, Oktay said severe weather conditions made it difficult to bring aid to the affected regions and conduct rescues. He said only rescue and aid vehicles were being allowed to enter or leave Hatay, Kahramanmaras and Adiyaman, three of the most impacted provinces.

Reuters - Turkey quake rescue 2 - Feb7

People look amid rubble as the search for survivors continues following an earthquake in Hatay, Turkey, February 7, 2023. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Rescue operations are focusing on those three provinces and Malatya, Oktay added.

WATCH: Why the Turkey, Syria earthquake was so damaging

(Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun and Nevzat Devranoglu; Writing by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Jonathan Spicer)

Thumbnail courtesy of REUTERS/Umit Bektas.