De*ath toll update | Violent earthquake ki*lls nearly 400 civilians at least while fate of hundreds others remains unknown
Hundreds of Syrian families are still stranded under the rubble of collapsed buildings in different towns and cities in north-west Syria at a time when rescue and medical teams are facing great challenges, as their poor capabilities do not match the extent of the tragedy.
According to SOHR statistics, 390 people have been killed so far; they are as follows:
- 240 fatalities in regime-controlled areas in Aleppo, Latakia, Hama and Tartus.
- 150 fatalities in Idlib, Aleppo countryside in north-west Syria.
The number of fatalities is expected to rise further, as hundreds of families are still stranded under rubble.
SOHR sources reported earlier today that a devastating earthquake hit the region of the east of the Mediterranean sea this dawn and followed by several aftershocks.
The violent earthquake caused total and partial damage to buildings in 58 Syrian villages, towns and cities, mostly in north-west Syria. The most affected areas are areas controlled by regime forces in Latakia, Hama and Aleppo, as well as Mare’ Al-Bab, Azaz, Jendires, Sarmada, Maarrat Masrin, Darkoush, Harem, Azmarin, Zardana, Salqin, Ram Hemdan and Jisr Al-Shughour. Other areas throughout north-west Syria region were also affected by the earthquake.
Meanwhile, rescue teams continued searching for survivors under the rubble of tens of collapsed buildings.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights appeals to international authorities to interfere immediately to save injured people and survivors in light of the poor capabilities of Syrian rescue teams.