More than 1,785 people were killed today, including 22 Palestinian refugees, and hundreds were injured in early counts as the number is expected to increase as a result of a devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria with a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale.
According to a first toll from the Syrian Ministry of Health, the death toll from the earthquake rose to about 771 deaths and 1,508 injuries in Latakia, Aleppo, Hama, and Tartous. More bodies are expected to be found.
At the same time, the Turkish Vice President announced that 1,014 people were killed, 2,323 were injured, and more than 1,700 buildings collapsed as a result of the earthquake, also in early counts.
A new 7.5-magnitude tremor struck southeastern Turkey this afternoon, according to the US Geological Survey, hours after the devastating earthquake, which occurred at a depth of about 17.9 kilometers and was also felt in Palestine, Lebanon, and Cyprus.
The Palestine Embassy in Damascus said 22 Palestinian refugees, including three children, were killed in the Raml refugee camp in Latakia, and Neirab camp in Aleppo, Syria.
President Mahmoud Abbas has mourned the Palestine refugees killed in the earthquake and sent his condolences to their families. He also instructed the Palestine embassy in Syria to do what is necessary to help the families affected by the earthquake and ordered the dispatch of Palestinian teams to help in the rescue operations.
Source: Palestine News and Information Agency