The world woke up on Monday, February 6, 2023, to a shocking scene of devastation caused by a powerful earthquake that struck multiple areas in Turkey and Syria. This unforgettable earthquake was a source of panic, horror, and widespread destruction, further compounded by harsh weather conditions that complicated rescue efforts.
The devastating earthquake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter located in the Kahramanmaraş region in southern Turkey. It resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and numerous injuries in three Syrian provinces: Aleppo, Latakia, and Idlib. Thousands of buildings collapsed over the heads of their inhabitants, as if the tragedy of the war that Syrians had endured was not enough. This shocking event further burdened the Syrian people, who had suffered from wars and bloody conflicts for over a decade.
This earthquake made the delivery of aid to the affected areas a complex task, and rescue teams faced significant challenges due to a lack of modern equipment and engineering tools. In contrast, Turkey received substantial support from the international community, with aid and modern equipment arriving quickly. Additionally, Turkey welcomed hundreds of rescue teams from various countries around the world.
In terms of human losses in Syria, the death toll exceeded 5,000 people, with hundreds more injured. Thousands of citizens lost their homes due to the massive destruction, forcing them into makeshift tents. Furthermore, historical sites and landmarks dating back hundreds of years in Syria suffered severe damage, including the Deir Samaan Church in rural Aleppo and the historic Aleppo Citadel. These landmarks were witnesses to Syria's history and civilization.
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An aerial view of an emergency shelter camp set up for those affected by the deadly earthquake in Aleppo northwestern Syria on February 9 2023
An aerial view shows rescue workers digging through the rubble of buildings in the rebel-held town of Jindayris on February 9 2023 three days after a deadly earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria
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The Cathedral of Saint Simeon Stylite known as either Qalaat Semaan or Deir Semaan is seen damaged following last week s 7 8-magnitude earthquake in the northwestern Aleppo province on February 19 2023
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Members of the Syrian civil defence known as the White Helmets transport an earthquake casualty to a hospital near Syria s rebel-held Bab al-Hawa crossing to Turkey on February 6 2023
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Syrian women weep next to bodies lying on the back of a truck on February 7 2023 in the town of Jindayris in the rebel-held part of Aleppo province
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A man stands next to the ruins of a building following an earthquake that hit the town of Sarmada in the countryside of Idlib province north-western Syria early on February 6 2023 - A magnitude 7 8 earthquake struck Turkey and Syria on February 6 killing hundreds of people in their sleep leveling buildings to the ground
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Members of the Syrian civil defence known as the White Helmets transport a casualty pulled from the rubble following an earthquake in the town of Zardana in the countryside of the northwestern Syrian Idlib province early on February 6 2023 A 7 8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria on February 6 killing hundreds of people as they slept levelling buildings and sending tremors that were felt as far away as the island of Cyprus and Egypt
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A man recites a prayer over the body of his child who died after succumbing to wounds sustained in the magnitude 7 8 earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey on February 6 in the Syrian rebel-held town of Jindayris on February 17 2023
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A man reacts as the body of his baby pulled out from the rubble is taken away by a Syrian White Helmet rescue worker in the town of Harim in Syria s rebel-held northwestern Idlib province on the border with Turkey on February 8 2023 two days after a deadly earthquake that
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Residents and rescue teams search under the rubble of destroyed buildings that were hit by the devastating earthquake in the town of Jinderes in the northern countryside of Aleppo on February 7 2023
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The body of a Syrian man lies amid the rubble of a collapsed building on February 7 2023 in the town of Jinderes in the rebel-held part of Aleppo Governorate following a deadly earthquake
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Members of the Syrian civil defence known as the White Helmets look for casualties under the rubble following an earthquake in the town of Zardana in the countryside of the northwestern Syrian Idlib province early on February 6 2023 A 7 8-magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria on February 6
