International aid reaches Turkey, Syria following devastating earthquake

KARACHI: Turkey and Syria have been hit by one of the most devastating earthquakes to have hit the region in the past century. With over 4000 thousand people dead and numbers rising and even more trapped under the rubble, search and rescue operations are underway. Several countries have lent a helping hand during the time of crisis. Here is all that you need to know about the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

The initial earthquake struck the countries at 4 am on Monday and measured at 7.8 on the Richter scale. After the first earthquake, it was reported that around 60 aftershocks were felt and the most major one was at a 7.5 magnitude which was felt 80km from the epicenter. Monday’s earthquake is believed to be the strongest to have hit Turkey since 1939, when an earthquake of the same magnitude killed 30,000 people.

The death toll continues to rise and many people are still trapped under the rubble, with search efforts hampered by the weather conditions. Nevertheless, several countries have stepped in by offering their help. Algeria sent 210 tons of humanitarian aid, China sent over $5.9 million in emergency aid. As per the EU Crisis Commissioner Janez Lenarcic, 27 search and rescue teams have been mobilized to search for survivors. Pakistan has dispatched its first batch of rescue teams and relief goods. A C-130 plane carrying a search and rescue team of the Pakistan army took off on Monday for Turkey as well as a 50-member rescue team, along with 25 tonnes of relief goods, left for Turkey through the Pakistan International Airlines.

Turkey and Syria are in dire need of donations to recover from the devastating earthquake. Please do your part and donate whatever you can to help the survivors.