In Ankara. One of the deadliest earthquakes in history struck southeast Turkey near the Syrian border in the early hours of Monday, killing more than 1,500 people.
When the earthquake hit, millions of people were asleep. Thousands of people were buried under the wreckage and have since been transported to medical facilities for assistance. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter of the enormous earthquake, which was about 23 kilometers east of Nurdagi in Turkey’s Gaziantep region, was felt as far away as Lebanon and Israel.
The tremor, which lasted for about a minute and caused dozens of buildings to quickly collapse, painted a stunning picture of the nation, which is well-known for its extensive tourism.
Initial reports stated that the quake on Monday was the most powerful to hit Turkey in in a century; the nation of over 85 million people has experienced a number of earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.0 or higher. Turkish officials asserted that more than 5,000 people had been hurt in the Middle Eastern country, and local authorities requested aid from outside.
The horrifying images and videos making the rounds on the internet depict heartbreaking scenes with rescue workers pulling dead bodies out of the wreckage while the injured were also seen covered in blood.
Numerous structures were destroyed, and a sizable portion of the nation was severely damaged. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was seen at the front lines as the country’s senior officials declared an emergency in the area amid the greatest calamity in recent memory.
The Russian president and other world leaders, including Pakistan’s leader, pledged support to Turkey and Syria as widespread condemnation poured in.
Pakistan provides aid as the death toll rises
In the midst of the widespread condemnation, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke on the phone with the leader of Turkey and sent his sympathies to both the Syrian and Turkish governments.
Following the unfortunate event, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also released a statement. It stated that the government and citizens of the South Asian country were devastated by the excessive loss of precious lives and significant property damage.
“The people of Pakistan stand in complete sympathy with our Turkish brethren in this hour of loss,” the statement continues. We offer the relatives of the deceased our sincere sympathies and we hope the injured person recovers quickly.