The earthquake in Turkey and Syria killed more than 20 thousand people

According to The New York Times, the number of victims of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria has exceeded 20 thousand people. In Turkey, 17,134 victims and more than 66 thousand victims, in Syria, more than three thousand people were killed and more than five thousand were injured.

The head of the Syrian Ministry of Health, Hassan al-Gabash, said the healthcare system "was able to withstand the shock," but the pressure on it is enormous. The issue of declaring the affected cities a disaster zone "may arise at any time."

The earthquake occurred on February 6. On the same day, several dozen aftershocks were observed, as well as another earthquake. The magnitudes of both are 7.8 and 7.7. On the night of February 7, the tremors were repeated. Erdogan called the earthquake the largest in the country since 1939. On the territory of Turkey, mourning for the dead has been declared, it will last until February 12.