NewsWorldEuropeRescuers seek to map out search priorities, after third earthquake rocks Kahramanmaras region in wake of country highest-magnitude tremor since 1939
Live: Rescuers search under rubble in Turkey as death toll from first earthquake crosses 1,500
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A third earthquake struck Turkey early this morning after two massive earthquakes are reported to have killed more than 4,000 people and wounded many thousands more in Turkey and Syria.
The 5.8 magnitude earthquake was recorded at a depth of 2km, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.
Meanwhile, rescuers continued to work overnight in cold and dark to look for survivors as experts warn the death toll is likely to rise further as snowy, freezing conditions hamper rescue efforts.
The Monday morning’s magnitude 7.8 tremor struck near the city of Gaziantep, and was felt nearly 1,000km away in Cairo, leaving a huge trail of destruction in Turkey and Syria, where many remained trapped below rubble as a second 7.5 magnitude earthquake then hit just hours later.
Authorities said 2,921 people had died in Turkey, with more than 15,000 injured. At least 1,293 people were killed in Syria, according to figures from the Damascus government, while rescue workers in the northwestern region controlled by insurgents said 450 people have been confirmed dead so far.
1675743442Death toll in southern Turkey risesOfficials in Turkey have updates the death toll from southern provinces to 2,912, Anadolu has reported quoting disaster management agency.
This takes the total confirmed deaths in Turkey and Syria to over 4,000.
Stuti Mishra7 February 2023 04:17
1675741676Third quake strikes TurkeyAn earthquake of 5.6 magnitude struck central Turkey on Tuesday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.
The quake was at a depth of 2 km, EMSC said.
This was the third strong earthquake to strike Turkey after two quakes on Monday left widespread destruction and 4,000 dead.
Stuti Mishra7 February 2023 03:47
1675738830UK sends rescue specialists to Turkey in aftermath of devastating earthquakeA team of British search-and-rescue specialists is heading to Turkey to help the relief effort following the earthquake which has claimed thousands of lives.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said no Britons had been reported dead in the quake which has devastated parts of Turkey and Syria, but he acknowledged it was still too early to say whether that would remain the case as the full picture emerges.
The powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake was followed by a series of aftershocks and more than 2,300 people were killed, although the authorities fear that the death toll will rise as the search for survivors continues.
Mr Cleverly said the impact of the quakes was “on a scale that we have not seen for quite some time”.
My colleague David Hughes reports:
Eleanor Noyce7 February 2023 03:00
1675735200Map of Turkey shows where massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake struckThe high-magnitude tremor struck at 4.17am local time on Monday in southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border, according to the US Geological Survey.
The epicentre of the quake was near the city of Gaziantep at a depth of 17.9km, impacting around seven provinces in Turkey and a large area in northern Syria.
More than 1,650 people have been confirmed dead in Turkey alone, taking the total tally of deaths including Syria above 2,600.
Mr Erdogan tweeted in the morning that “search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched” to the areas hit by the quake.
More here:
Eleanor Noyce7 February 2023 02:00
1675734600Aerial footage captures earthquake damage in Syria’s IdlibAerial footage shows the damage caused by an earthquake today, 6 February, in Idlib, Syria.
At least 2,300 people have died in both countries after two earthquakes over magnitude 7 hit Syria and Turkey on Monday, 6 February.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the high-magnitude tremor struck at 4.17am local time on Monday in southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border.
A second earthquake measuring at least 7.5 magnitude was later felt in central Turkey.
Watch here:
Aerial footage captures earthquake damage in Syria’s IdlibAerial footage shows the damage caused by an earthquake today, 6 February, in Idlib, Syria. At least 2,300 people have died in both countries after two earthquakes over magnitude 7 hit Syria and Turkey on Monday, 6 February. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the high-magnitude tremor struck at 4.17am local time on Monday in southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border. A second earthquake measuring at least 7.5 magnitude was later felt in central Turkey. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Eleanor Noyce7 February 2023 01:50
1675732800Footballer Christian Atsu trapped ‘under rubble’ after Turkey earthquake, reports sayFormer Chelsea and Newcastle forward Christian Atsu is missing and believed to be trapped under rubble following the powerful earthquake that struck Turkey on Monday and left more than 2,500 people dead.
The Ghana international, who plays for Turkish club Hatayspor, is thought to be in a building that was destroyed, Hatayspor spokesman Mustafa Özat said, according to Turkish media.
Özat said club director Taner Savut was also believed to be in a building that collapsed and club officials couldn’t contact both men. They were likely trapped, Özat said.
At least two other Hatayspor players had to be pulled out of rubble but were now safe, Özat said. Atsu and Savut were the only two Hatayspor players or officials still unaccounted for, he added.
The 31-year-old Atsu joined Hatayspor, which is based in the southern city of Antakya, last year after a spell playing in Saudi Arabia.
My colleague Gerald Imray has more:
Eleanor Noyce7 February 2023 01:20
1675731000Syria earthquake: Child pulled from rubble of collapsed buildingFootage shows the moment a child was pulled from rubble after an earthquake in Syria today, 6 February.
At least 2,300 people have died after two earthquakes over magnitude 7 hit Syria and Turkey on Monday, 6 February.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), a high-magnitude tremor struck at 4.17am local time on Monday in southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border.
A second earthquake measuring at least 7.5 magnitude was later felt in central Turkey.
Watch:
Syria earthquake: Child pulled from rubble of collapsed buildingFootage shows the moment a child was pulled from rubble after an earthquake in Syria today, 6 February. At least 2,300 people have died after two earthquakes over magnitude 7 hit Syria and Turkey on Monday, 6 February. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), a high-magnitude tremor struck at 4.17am local time on Monday in southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border. A second earthquake measuring at least 7.5 magnitude was later felt in central Turkey. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Eleanor Noyce7 February 2023 00:50
1675729200Turkey earthquake: Are flights and holidays cancelled?A 7.8 magnitude earthquake has struck an area of southeast Turkey, with tourists urged by the Foreign Office (FCDO) to “avoid the immediate vicinity” of the incident.
The FCDO updated its advice to UK travellers at 3am on Monday, following the tragic incident in the early hours.
The initial 7.8 earthquake struck the southeastern city of Gaziantep at 4.17am local time. Turkey’s emergency authorities have since reported a second, 7.5 magnitude earthquake in a different southeast location at 1.24pm local time.
At the time of writing, the combined death toll of the incident in Syria and Turkey stands at more than 2,300.
Are holidays to Turkey in the coming weeks affected, and are airlines still operating flights?
My colleague Lucy Thackray has more:
Eleanor Noyce7 February 2023 00:20
1675727407Second earthquake came from a different fault, seismologist confirms A second earthquake that struck Turkey on Monday has been labelled an “unusual” occurrence triggered by the first quake, a seismologist has said.
Remy Bossu, head of the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, observed that the second earthquake was on a different fault system entirely.
“Traditionally what we observe is we have a main shock, and then we have aftershocks which follow along the same rupture zone. They are lower in magnitude and they are close in space”, Mr Bossu told Sky News.
“Here, the second earthquake – the one of this morning, 7.6 [magnitude] approximately – is nearly as big as the first shock and it is on a second fault system. So if you look at the aftershocks… the first shock was along the East Anatolian Fault – and the second one is on a second fault.
“It is a totally different system. It is not an aftershock, it is a second [earthquake] which has been triggered by the first one.
“This is unusual, we call this a sequence of earthquakes.”
Eleanor Noyce6 February 2023 23:50
1675725607Hospitals struggling amidst electricity outages, NGO Director confirmsDr. Mostafa Edo, a Country Director for the US-based NGO MedGlobal, told CNN that he has spent Monday distributing aid to hospitals across Syria’s northwest region.
“In the building where I live [in Idlib], my neighbour lives with his parents, both of whom have a disability. He couldn’t leave home during the earthquake because he had to stay by their side because they couldn’t leave home. They had to stay in place for hours that were absolutely horrific as the earthquake and aftershocks took place,” Edo said.
“One of my colleagues, who I’ve worked with for more than five years, was killed about two years ago in Russian airstrikes. I found out today that his whole family, his wife and kids, all passed away today when their building collapsed”, Mr Edo added.
Elsewhere, hospitals are experiencing electricity outages. Some, which were relying on electricity supplies from Turkey, will now need to depend on generators which require diesel. In Harem, Darkush, Kafr Takharim and Tal Mileh, paramedics have had difficulties providing aid due to the heavy machinery needed to help with rescue operations.
Eleanor Noyce6 February 2023 23:20
