Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria claim over 3,500 lives, toll expected to increase

The confirmed death toll from the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria has reached at least 3,500, but is expected to increase.

Southern Turkey, (TechtUSA) - At least 3,452 individuals have passed away due to a catastrophic earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, causing widespread destruction and leaving rescuers in a race to save those trapped in the debris.

According to statements of Fuat Oktay, the Vice President of Turkey, the death toll in Turkey has risen to at least 2,379 and there are 14,483 injured. He also stated that 7,840 victim have been evacuated from the debris. Additionally, Disaster and Emergency Management Authority of Turkey (AFAD) reported that at least 6,217 buildings have crumbled as a result of the disaster.

Turkey death toll earthquake — Fuat Oktay, Vice President of Turkey is making statement.

In Syria, the death toll from the earthquake has reached at least 1,136 individuals. According to the Syrian state news agency SANA, 656 of these fatalities occurred in government-controlled areas, with the majority being in the regions of Aleppo, Hama, Latakia, and Tartus.

Turkey and Syria hit by "historic disaster"

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8, followed by another with a magnitude of 7.5, resulted in thousands of fatalities and widespread destruction in southeastern Turkey and northwestern Syria.

Turkey earthquake — The earthquake victims are trying to reach their family in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey referred to the earthquake as a "historic disaster" and the most severe one to impact Turkey since 1939. Despite this, he assured the public that authorities were taking all necessary measures.

WHO stated death tolls could increase eight-fold

The World Health Organization has issued a warning that the death toll from the earthquake is expected to rise to up to eight times the current count as rescuers continue their search for victims in the debris.

"There's continued potential of further collapses to happen so we do often see in the order of eight fold increases on the initial numbers," the WHO's senior emergency officer for Europe, Catherine Smallwood, told AFP.

"We always see the same thing with earthquakes, unfortunately, which is that the initial reports of the numbers of people who have died or who have been injured will increase quite significantly in the week that follows," she added.