Death toll in Turkey-Syria earthquake could top 20,000, says WHO

Israel National News reports: “The death toll in Syria and Turkey following a devastating earthquake before dawn Monday morning could top 20,000, officials from the World Health Organization warned Tuesday morning.

Thus far, over 5,000 fatalities have been confirmed in both countries, as search and rescue teams continue to pull bodies from the ruins of buildings toppled by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks.

More than 240 aftershocks were recorded after the initial quake, including one rated at 7.5 on the Richter scale.

Turkey has reported 3,432 confirmed fatalities thus far, along with over 21,000 people injured.

In northwestern Syria, which remains split between rebel-controlled and government-administered towns, casualty figures have been updated more slowly. Currently, the Syrian government has confirmed 812 deaths and 1,449 people injured in Aleppo, Lattakia, Hama, Idleb and Tartous.

Another 790 deaths have been reported thus far in rebel-held districts…”

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