More than 72 hours after the devastating earthquake occurred, more than 17,000 people have been confirmed dead in Turkey and Syria.
The scene of destruction in Turkey after a terrible earthquake on February 6 (Photo: Archyde.com).
In a statement on February 9, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that 17,176 victims have been confirmed dead after a devastating earthquake on February 6 in the border area between Turkey and Syria. In which, Turkey recorded 14,014 deaths. The number of victims in Syria is 3,162 people.
Besides, tens of thousands of other people have also been injured and are being urgently treated at newly established field hospitals. The death toll is expected to continue to rise in the near future.
Rescuers rescue a victim from the rubble (Image: Getty).
Rescue crews are still doing their best to search for survivors in the rubble. However, a Turkish official confirmed to Archyde.com that time is running out and that the situation is becoming “extremely difficult”.
In earthquake-hit cities, survivors are currently living in makeshift shelters or in cars. Supporting these people is also becoming an urgent issue for the authorities, as winter temperatures in Turkey and Syria are extremely low.
Early in the morning of February 6 local time, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the border area between Turkey and Syria. The earthquake with a destructive power equivalent to 32 atomic bombs dropped by the US on the Japanese city of Hiroshima devastated a large area, causing terrible damage to people and property.