By Ricardo Lezama 21/feb/2023
La Cartita
A powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Turkey-Syria border region on Monday, causing additional destruction, injuries and fear in an area already heavily damaged from a previous quake two weeks prior.
Rescuers worked all night in an effort to free three men entrapped in a collapsed building in Antakya.
Over 130 people were injured in Syria, and 18 of those are in serious condition. Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay urged people not to enter damaged buildings, and Turkish Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca asked for prayers for the injured, local people, and the country.
Estimates suggest that the February 6 earthquake has led to the death of 48,000 people across Turkey and Syria, leaving 900,000 to live in tents and containers in Turkey.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay urged people not to enter damaged buildings, and Turkish Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca asked for prayers for the injured, local people, and the country.
Property developers have been arrested or detained amid concerns of lack of enforcement of building regulations, while search and rescue operations have come to an end as experts say chances of survival are unlikely.
Monday’s quake is considered an aftershock, and the USGS reports aftershocks can continue for days, weeks, months or even years for a very large mainshock.