(Monday, February 6, 2023) – A powerful earthquake rocked Turkey and neighboring Syria early Monday killing over 2,300 persons and injuring thousands of others. Officials estimate the death toll will likely rise as search and rescue efforts continue.
The 7.8 magnitude quake toppled hundreds of buildings, trapping residents underneath mountains of rubble. The earthquake was centered on Turkey’s southeastern area which sits on top of major fault lines and is frequently rattled by earthquakes. In 1999, more than 18,000 people were killed when powerful earthquakes hit northwest Turkey.
Hours after the first quake today, a second jolted the area at a 7.5 magnitude about 60 miles away.