Earthquake death toll in Turkey and Syria surpasses 5,000

Tuesday, 7 February 2023 13:32

By 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.

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.

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

More from International News

US Gaza aid pier breaks in heavy seas

A US military-built pier off Gaza's coast is being temporarily removed after a part of the structure broke off, the Pentagon said, in the latest blow to efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
South Korea accuses North of sending 'trash' balloons

South Korea has accused North Korea of sending a large number of balloons across the heavily fortified border between the countries to drop objects that included trash and excrement, calling the act base and dangerous.
US says latest Rafah deaths won't change Israel policy

The Biden administration said on Tuesday it was closely monitoring the probe into a deadly Israeli airstrike it called "tragic", but that the recent deaths in Rafah didn't constitute a major ground operation there that crosses any US red lines.
Israeli forces press Rafah offensive despite global outcry

Israel pounded Rafah with airstrikes and tank fire on Tuesday, pressing its offensive in Gaza's southern city despite international condemnation of an attack that sparked a blaze in a tent camp for the displaced, killing at least 45 people.