The death toll in Syria from a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit southeast Turkey on Monday rose overnight to almost 1,400, according to data compiled from multiple sources.

Earthquake-hit territory in Syria is divided between territory held by Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the country’s last opposition-held enclave, which is surrounded by government forces and borders Turkey.

While the Syrian Ministry of Health reported casualties in areas under regime control, the Syrian Civil Defense reported casualties in areas held by the opposition.

The death toll in government-controlled areas of Syria has risen to 656, with about 1,400 injured, according to the health ministry.

In the opposition-controlled northwest, groups operating there said at least 450 people have died and many hundreds have been injured.

Time is running out to rescue hundreds of families trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings after a devastating earthquake, the head of the Syrian opposition civil defense service said on Tuesday.

Raed al-Saleh told Reuters that urgent help is needed from international teams to rescue an organization known as the White Helmets in rebel-held northwestern Syria, where hundreds have been killed and wounded.

The war-ravaged country called on the United Nations and all Member States to help with rescue operations, medical services, shelter and food aid.

Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bassam Sabbah told reporters that the UN Secretary General “assured us that the UN will do everything possible to help Syria in this very difficult situation.” Sabbah said he delivered a letter to Guterres from the country’s foreign minister asking for help.

Sabbah was asked if Syria would agree to allow the UN to bring aid through other checkpoints from Turkey, if possible.

He did not answer directly, but said the government was ready to help and coordinate the delivery of aid to “all Syrians throughout Syria.”

The territory held by the opposition depended on the flow of aid from neighboring Turkey for everything from food to medical supplies.

Earlier Monday, strong aftershocks rocked the Syrian regions of Idlib, Aleppo, Hama, Latakia and Raqqa, the state news agency SANA reported.

Dozens of buildings have also been destroyed or damaged in opposition-held areas in northern Syria, where rescuers are frantically searching for survivors.

More than 3,381 people have died in Turkey as a result of two earthquakes of magnitude 7.7 and 7.6, according to the Turkish Emergency and Disaster Management Authority (AFAD).

According to the agency, both earthquakes occurred in the southern province of Kahramanmaras.

Previous articleThousands of properties in Britain are owned by anonymous investors, including Kremlin allies.
Next articleMorocco invests $1.95 billion in Sahara
Eddie Hudson is an Entertainment News Reporter and Fashion Stylist. Graduated with a degree in Television Production from Howard University. He is an award-winning entertainment news reporter at 24PalNews and credits his upbringing and passion for helping others as the foundation for his success.

Leave a Reply