Turkey has been hit by another earthquake early Tuesday morning, a day after two others devastated the country and neighboring Syria, with the death toll currently around 5,000 people.
An initial 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border early Monday morning at 4:17 AM local time, with a 6.7 magnitude aftershock being felt 11 minutes later.
The initial earthquake could be felt across the world, including as far as Greenland and a 7.5 magnitude tremor then hit the region again as rescue missions were underway, per the Daily Mail.
The BBC reported that the region is susceptible to earthquakes, as it is located on the Anatolian tectonic plate which sits between the Eurasian, African, and Arabian plates which essentially caused Turkey to be "squeezed."
Early Tuesday morning, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit central Turkey. Although these tremors occurred at a shallower depth, this can sometimes cause more damage - though it is currently unknown how much it caused.
The World Health Organization (WHO) have stated that they believe the death toll could rise to 20,000, and 23 million people could be affected by these natural disasters, as cited by the Daily Mail.
Turkey’s vice president, Fuat Oktay, said 3,419 people had been killed in the quake while the death toll on the Syrian side of the border rose to 1,602 early Tuesday, as reported by the Guardian.
World leaders have rallied to offer support to the region affected by the earthquakes, with the UK sending 70 rescue specialists and sniffer dogs to help with the rescue efforts.
The UN, the EU, NATO, and the governments of the US, UK, China, Russia, India, Japan, Iraq, Iran, Australia, New Zealand, Greece, and Pakistan have offered both resources and experts to assist in the rescue operations.
Ibrahim Haskologlu, a Turkish journalist, told the BBC that people trapped underneath the rubble are sending voice notes, videos, and their live locations as they remain trapped under fallen structures.
Rescue missions in Syria are being hindered by damaged roads, leaving UN aid unable to reach areas that were badly affected during the quakes.
Turkey's disaster and emergency management authority AFAD has revealed that 24,400 emergency personnel are currently helping with rescue operations.
In Gaziantep, where the first quake struck, temperatures can drop to 19 degrees Fahrenheit. This is making rescue operations harder, with people who have lost their homes having to make fires on the street to keep warm.
Our thoughts remain with those affected by this tragedy.
