Updated with new info in graf 6.
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 – Hundreds of people were reported to have been killed following several earthquakes in Turkey and Syria today including a 7.8 strong hit in central Turkey.
Search and rescue operations are being carried out in at least 10 cities in Turkey where buildings have come down, a posting on Anadolu Agency’s Facebook said.
The epicentre of the strongest earthquake was in the Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaraş, it said. Many buildings were reported to have been destroyed in the earthquake.
According to local media, close to 300 people have died in Turkey and the number is expected to rise. Syria is also reported to have recorded over 300 deaths.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) website meanwhile reported a total of 60 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 and above on the richter scale the past 24 hours from Japan to Hawaii. The 7.8 strong earthquake in Turkey was centred about 33km from the city of Gaziantep.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a press conference today announced that immediate assistance will be offered to Turkey such as trained personnel for search and rescue mission.
Other world leaders who have offered their assistance to Turkey include India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A press statement issued by the Press Information Bureau of India said immediate relief material, search and rescue teams as well as medical teams will be dispatched to the country in coordination with the Government of Turkey.
“Two teams of NDRF comprising 100 personnel with specially trained dog squads and necessary equipment are ready to be flown to the earthquake hit area for search & rescue operations. Medical Teams are also being readied with trained doctors and paramedics with essential medicines. It said the efforts will be undertaken together with the Indian Embassy in Ankara and Consulate General office in Istanbul.
— WE