18 Dead, 550+ Injured & Many Trapped Under Rubble Following 6.8 Earthquake in Turkey
A 6.8 earthquake in eastern Turkey has claimed at least 18 lives and caused multiple buildings to collapse, trapping many under rubble. The quake was centered in the province of Elazig and was felt as far away as Tel Aviv, Israel.
The quake struck near the town of Sivrice but was felt in other neighboring countries, including Syria, Georgia, Lebanon and Armenia. Its depth was measured at 10 kilometers by EMSC and it was violent enough to send people running outdoors for safety, according to local media.
▪️ Centered in #Elazig
▪️ 6.8 magnitude
▪️ 4 dead
▪️ 4 or 5 buildings collapsedMORE: https://t.co/RiqoKib6sJpic.twitter.com/ktRsCdS0WB
— RT (@RT_com) January 24, 2020
Turkish authorities reported at least 550 had been injured in addition to the deaths, 13 of which occurred in Elazig, with the rest in Malatya. The death and injury toll has continued to climb throughout the day after initial reports.
Some 170 ambulances and helicopters have been sent to both provinces to treat the injured.
Durum kötü, umarım can kaybı yoktur :/ #Elazığ pic.twitter.com/uK2mSSWXAn
— Seyyah ❂ (@444syyh) January 24, 2020
Map of felt reports received so far following the #earthquake M6.9 in Eastern Turkey 40 min ago pic.twitter.com/RXQx9Vkbw3
— EMSC (@LastQuake) January 24, 2020
The initial tremor was followed by a series of aftershocks, peaking at magnitudes of 5.4 and 5.1, according to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency.
Moment when 6.8 magnitude #earthquake that jolts eastern #Turkey, happens in live TV. #deprem #elazig pic.twitter.com/HoLvRXIdKX
— Xhildinho Z (@xhildinho) January 24, 2020
One video posted to social media shows a news show in progress as studio fixtures begin to shake violently. Other videos show people shouting and scrambling over rubble from collapsed and partially collapsed buildings.
#Turkey earthquake damages buildings, sends people rushing into streets, killing at least 4
MORE: https://t.co/RiqoKib6sJ pic.twitter.com/n3wXsx5Ub7
— RT (@RT_com) January 24, 2020
