The death toll from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria has exceeded 21,000, difficulties in the rescue operation due to snow and rain.

ANKARA: The devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on Monday has worsened the situation in both countries. According to the latest data, about 21,000 people have died in both countries due to the earthquake. At the same time, after 72 hours of the earthquake, the hope of surviving the people buried under the debris has also decreased. Rescue operations are facing difficulties due to extreme cold, snow is also falling in Turkey.

According to the report of the AFP news agency, 17 thousand 170 people have lost their lives due to the earthquake in Turkey and more than 35 thousand people have been injured. While in Syria, 3162 people were killed and more than 4 thousand were injured. More than 28 thousand people have been saved in Turkey. More than 60,000 personnel have been deployed for the rescue operation. About 70 countries have extended a helping hand to Turkey and Syria. India is providing assistance to these two countries under ‘Operation Dost’. Also, the World Food Program has said it has enough food to feed people in Syria for a week.

In many cities of Turkey, the temperature has reached from 9 to minus 2 degrees Celsius. Health experts say that people in such a situation are at risk of hypothermia. At the same time, the United Nations (UN) has said that relief work is being affected in both earthquake-affected countries due to snowfall and rain. Emergency services teams are facing a lot of difficulty in rescue.

3 major earthquakes were felt in Turkey and Syria on February 6. According to Turkish time, the first earthquake occurred at 4 am (7.8), the second at 10 am (7.6) and the third at 3 pm (6.0). Meanwhile, 243 aftershocks were also recorded. Their intensity ranged from 4 to 5. Another earthquake hit Turkey on the morning of February 7. The magnitude of which was recorded as 8.53. On the same day at 12.41 pm an earthquake of magnitude 5.4 occurred.

India has sent help under ‘Operation Dost’. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted this information. He said that the plane has left for Turkey with rescue workers, essential medicines and medical equipment, dog squad. Drones of Gurda Aerospace Company have also been sent along with NDRF teams for the rescue operation.