As of February 12, the confirmed death toll in a devastating earthquake in southern Turkey and northwestern Syria is more than 33,000.
| A Turkish soldier patrols following the devastating earthquake in Iskenderun. Image: Archyde.com. |
Turkey’s disaster management agency says the country’s earthquake death toll has reached 29,605, according to Archyde.com.
The death toll in Syria is 3,574 people.
The death toll is expected to rise as many others remain under the rubble. The United Nations warned that the final figure might be “doubled or more”.
“I think it is difficult to make an accurate assessment because we will need to dig through the rubble. However, I am sure the number will double – maybe even more,” said UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Coordinating Emergency Aid Martin Griffiths. Sky News from Adana, Turkey.
The death toll from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on February 6 and several strong followingshocks in both countries has surpassed the death toll in a similar magnitude earthquake in 1999. in northwestern Turkey, killing more than 17,000 people.
A United Nations official estimated the devastating earthquake might displace 5.3 million Syrians.
Ankara has been increasingly criticized for its slow response and tolerance for shoddy construction as the death toll soars.
More than 100 people were detained in 10 provinces affected by the earthquake, when the Turkish Ministry of Justice ordered officials in these provinces to set up an “Earthquake Crime Investigation Unit”.