Turkey has experienced a second high-magnitude earthquake. The second tremor comes only a few hours after an M7.8 earthquake that sent shockwaves through the nation on Monday morning. According to sources, the second earthquake is measured to be a massive 7.5 on the Richter Scale.
The epicenter of the first tremor was reportedly near Gaziantep, a city in Turkey. The second earthquake is said to have occurred in the southern region of Turkey.
There is no official word on the death toll, but estimates have put it in the thousands. The disaster has left several people stranded and trapped under rubble. Rescue operations are currently underway, and nations around the world have offered their support in this time of need.
Moreover, after the first quake, several other smaller tremors were reported. A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Gaziantep, and a 5.6-magnitude one struck the city’s Nurdag neighborhood.
The latest 7.5 magnitude quake is the second above 7M.
How many people have been rescued so far in the Turkey earthquake?
According to reports, more than 2400 people have been rescued so far. Moreover, the number of collapsed buildings is reportedly more than 2800.
Moreover, the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has said he has been contacted by over 45 countries, apart from NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and the EU (European Union).
In the midst of the national catastrophe, Turkey’s financial markets crashed as the Lira hit a new record low.
Syria also took a blow from the earthquake as large structures collapsed. As per official reports, over 50 people have been declared dead in the country. Moreover, according to Syrian government media, Hama, Aleppo, Latakia, and Salqin saw the majority of the country’s fatalities.
Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing, and the death toll is rising every minute. The catastrophe is one of the worst to hit Turkey in many decades.