A devastating earthquake struck Southeast Turkey near the Syrian border early on Monday, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.8, struck at 4:17 a.m. local time and was felt in neighbouring countries, including Lebanon and Cyprus.
A devastating earthquake struck Southeast Turkey near the Syrian border early on Monday, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.8, struck at 4:17 a.m. local time and was felt in neighbouring countries, including Lebanon and Cyprus.
The earthquake caused widespread damage, with many buildings collapsing and trapping people under the rubble. Rescue teams were deployed to search for survivors, and the death toll has risen to over 500 people, with thousands injured. The earthquake has affected 10 cities in the region, including Gaziantep, Malatya, Sanliurfa, and Diyarbakir.
“The entire building started shaking and I didn’t know what to feel,” said Mohamad El Chamaa, a student in Beirut, Lebanon who experienced the earthquake. “It went on for four-five minutes and was pretty horrific.”
Turkey lies in one of the world’s most active earthquake zones, and this is not the first time the country has faced such a tragedy. In 1999, over 17,000 people lost their lives in a powerful earthquake that struck the northwest of the country.
This latest earthquake has once again brought the issue of disaster preparedness to the forefront, and it is hoped that lessons learned from past disasters can be applied to minimize the loss of life and property in future earthquakes.
