Turkey-Syria Earthquake: Fifth quake strikes as death toll reaches 5,000; India deploys relief team

As the second day of rescue operations continue after the bone-chilling series of earthquakes that led to a trail of catastrophe and destruction across Syria and Turkey, the death toll due to the earthquakes has reportedly crossed 5,000, according to local media reports.

A National Disaster Response Force team from India departed for Turkey on Tuesday to help aid the search and rescue operations underway in the disaster-stricken nation. Based in Ghaziabad and Kolkata, a total of 101 personnel from two teams, alongside two search dogs, four-wheeled vehicles and a communication setup, have left for Turkey to aid local rescuers.

The first batch of rescue and aid teams left from the Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad early Tuesday morning and have arrived at Adana in Turkey, media outlets reported.

It may be pertinent to note that the NDRF has previously aided other nations in international search operations twice, during the Japan triple disaster (earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown) in 2011 and the Nepal earthquake in 2015.

Agra-based Army Field Hospital has also dispatched a 89-member medical team, according to media reports. The medical team, comprising an Orthopaedic Surgical Team, General Surgical Specialist Team, and Medical Specialist Teams, is set to depart for Turkey Tuesday evening.

On Monday, while taking to Twitter to express his condolences, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured that India would “remain committed to provide assistance and support in this difficult time.”

Deeply pained to learn that the devastating earthquake has also affected Syria. My sincere condolences to the families of the victims. We share the grief of Syrian people and remain committed to provide assistance and support in this difficult time.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 6, 2023

The first of the earthquakes is believed to have occurred pre-dawn with the epicentre located near the city of Gaziantep with a 7.8 magnitude. A second earthquake hit the nations on Monday evening with the epicentre located in the Kahramanmaras province and a magnitude of 7.5.

A fifth earthquake is reported to have hit Turkey on Tuesday with a magnitude of 5.7, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). According to local media reports, at least 100 aftershocks recorded at a 4.0 or greater magnitude have occurred in the region since the initial 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit early Monday morning.