Syrians prayed as 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit, causing destruction ‘worse’ than civil war
Syrians ‘knelt and prayed fearing it was judgement day’ when 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit as buildings collapsed around them, wreaking destruction ‘worse than anything during civil war’
At least 810 people were killed in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that tore through Turkey and Syria today.
Citizens, who have spent the last 11 years embroiled in a brutal civil war responsible for the deaths of up to 610,000 people, spoke of how they ‘knelt and prayed fearing it was judgement day’ as buildings started to fall before dawn.
‘We saw dozens of families in shock and fear. I haven’t had that feeling all through the years of the war,’ said Anas Habbash, a 37-year-old Aleppo native who escaped with his son and pregnant wife this morning.
‘This was much more difficult than shells and bullets.’
A man carries a girl following an earthquake, in rebel-held town of Jandaris, Syria, 6 February
A man carries the body of an earthquake victim in the Besnia village near the Turkish border
Tremors from the first deadly quake – which lasted about a minute – were felt as far away as the island of Cyprus, Egypt and Lebanon, and a tsunami warning was briefly issued by authorities in Italy along the country’s coast. The second quake struck about 60 miles from the epicentre of the first, less than 12 hours later
Angela Kearney, UNICEF Representative in Syria: ‘Many people, including children are displaced and remain outside in streets and open areas.
‘The government of Syria closed schools and universities for today and some are being used as shelters.
‘The psychological impact on some people we met is grave.’
As a result of the ongoing civil war, Syria remains divided with parts inaccessible to the government.
The country’s health ministry reported that at least 430 people were killed and 1,315 injured in government controlled areas.
The Syrian government, led by Bashar Al Assad controls much of the centre, west and southwest of the country.
The northeast of Syria, closest to the epicentre of the earthquake, has suffered from factional violence since 2011.
Since the territorial defeat of ISIS in 2019, many tens of thousands of men, women and children remain displaced from their homes, living in life-threatening conditions.
The Syrian government on Monday appealed to the international community for help following the devastation caused by the earthquake.
The foreign ministry said in a statement: ‘Syria appeals to member states of the United Nations… the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian’ groups to support ‘efforts to face the devastating earthquake.’
The Syrian regime said it did not request Israeli assistance after the earthquake after Israel stated it had.
A rescue man carries evacuated child pulled out of the rubble following an earthquake in northwestern Syrian Idlib in the rebel-held part of Idlib province, on February 6, 2023
Rescuers search for survivors under the rubble, following an earthquake, in Aleppo, Syria February 6, 2023
Civil defense workers and residents search through the rubble of collapsed buildings in the town of Harem near the Turkish border, Idlib province, Syria, Monday, Feb. 6, 2023
Separately, in rebel-controlled areas, The White Helmets rescue group said at least 380 were killed and more than 1,000 injured in rebel-held areas.
It had cautioned earlier on Monday ‘the toll may increase as many families are still trapped.’
The group warned that it was struggling to access damaged areas in the north of the country due to poor weather conditions.
Snow and heavy rain, pictured in both northern Syria and southern Turkey today, have blocked roads.
The scale of the disaster is reportedly much bigger than the volunteers can handle alone.
‘The situation is bad,’ said Majid Ibrahim, a general surgeon at the hospital in Darkush, near the Turkish border.
By late morning, around 150 people had arrived dead or injured.
‘A lot of people are still under the debris of the buildings,’ he told AFP.
‘We need urgent help for the area, especially medical help.’
Action for Humanity, a Salford-based NGO providing humanitarian aid in Syria, confirmed that an aid worker and her daughter died in the quake.
The charity said they would be launching a full-scale emergency campaign to help support those displaced and injured, as well as the health systems and infrastructure in Syria.
Carsten Hansen, Middle East regional director for the Norwegian Refugee Council, said: ‘
‘This is a disaster that will worsen the suffering of Syrians already struggling with a severe humanitarian crisis.
‘Millions have already been forced to flee by war in the wider region and now many more will be displaced by disaster.
‘In the midst of a winter storm and an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis, it is vital that Syrians are not left to face the aftermath on their own.
‘NRC is assessing the situation in order to provide direct support to those most affected across Syria.’
Rescuers search through the rubble of a building for victims and survivors following a deadly earthquake that shook Syria at dawn on February 6, 2023 in Aleppo’s Salaheddine district
Aleppo’s ancient citadel is damaged following a deadly earthquake that shook Syria
Aleppo’s ancient citadel is damaged following a deadly earthquake that shook Syria
The historic city of Aleppo suffered significant damage from the earthquake.
It is estimated that one third of the school buildings in the city were either damaged or used during the Civil War, rendering much of the region unusable.
The full extent of damage added by the earthquake is not yet clear.
It has been reported that the Greek Orthodox Cathedral was damaged by the earthquake.
Pictured above, the ancient citadel built between the 3rd millennium BC and the 12 century AD suffered damage to its walls.