Death toll in Turkey and Syria earthquake crosses 3800

Istanbul: The death toll in massive earthquakes in Turkey and Syria has crossed 3,800. Several thousands of people are injured in the region.

Hundreds of people are believed to be trapped under rubble. The toll is expected to rise as rescue workers searched mounds of wreckage in cities and towns across Turkey and Syria.

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the two countries yesterday while people were asleep. It is the deadliest tragedy to hit Turkey since 1939. Millions of people across Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus and Israel felt the earthquake. Tremors from the powerful earthquakes were also felt as far away as Denmark and Greenland.

Dozens of countries have pledged to aid in search and rescue operations. Offers of aid have poured in from across the world, including from India, the UAE, the European Union,



and Israel.

India has sent the 1st batch of earthquake relief material for Türkey along with NDRF Search and Rescue Teams, specially trained dog squads, medical supplies, drilling machines and other necessary equipment.

In a tweet, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, India's Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief HADR capabilities in action.

The Government yesterday had decided to immediately send Search and  Rescue Teams along with relief material to the earthquake hit nation.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr P K Mishra yesterday held a meeting  to discuss immediate relief measures in light of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s instructions to offer all possible assistance to cope with the earthquake in Turkey.