On Monday February 6th, Turkey and Syria were struck with a magnitude 7.8 earthquake which is said to be one of the deadliest earthquakes in decades. The earthquake stroke in the middle of the night, survivors have said they were waking up and trying to evacuate. The earthquake struck at 4:17 am, 150 miles away from the Turkey-Syria border. The second earthquake occurred at 1:24 am. Rescue workers said so far 11,000 people have been killed as a result of the two earthquakes. As well as tens of thousands of people were horribly injured with hundreds of buildings crumbled to the ground.

Earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 or higher are classified as a “major earthquake”. Aftershocks with a magnitude of 7.5 were detected shortly after. Many were furious that it took so long for rescue workers crews to arrive with heavy machinery. The Czech Republic sent search teams to help aid Turkey with recovering bodies and survivors. France has given Syria “field hospitals” to help aid the injured people. The staff of field hospital workers consists of 80 people which also include firefighters. According to the New York Times, “the United Nations says nearly 11 million people in Syria have been affected by the two earthquakes”. With nearly 4 million of them relying on basic humanitarian acts such as needs for clean water and food.”

As the rescuing searches continue the death toll gets higher and higher. It is expected that the death roll will keep rising as many more people are in need of urgent medical help. Now American search and rescue teams with medics, engineers, trained dogs with specialized equipment have arrived in Turkey. This deadly earthquake, which was also felt in Lebanon and Israel, is the most powerful one on record in Turkey.