Earthquake death toll in Türkiye-Syria passes 46,000

Thousands of buildings have collapsed in Türkiye and Syria in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, one of the strongest to hit the region in more than 100 years.

The death toll in Türkiye rose to 40,642, Turkish officials said, adding that more than 80,000 people were injured.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, in Syria, the toll is at least 5,763, including 3,567 deaths in opposition-held areas and 2,196 deaths in regime-controlled areas.

“According to the latest developments, the number of people who have been killed due to the devastating earthquake in Syria is expected to exceed 7,000, especially since there are hundreds of missing people under rubble,” the group said.

The group noted that the violent earthquake also caused total and partial damage to buildings in nearly 120 villages, towns and cities in the middle, north-west and west of Syria. (ILKHA)