Earthquake-ravaged Turkey, Biden ordered quick assistance

Turkey has been hit by a strong earthquake one after the other. At least 42 aftershocks occurred within two hours of the first strong earthquake, the country's Ministry of Internal Disaster and Emergency Management said. Until the last news, more than 200 people have been killed and more than 1000 injured in Turkey and neighboring Syria.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden ordered assistance in rescue operations in earthquake-ravaged Turkey. At the same time, the country has expressed deep concern about this terrible earthquake.

US National Security Adviser Jack Sullivan said this information. He said that President Joe Biden has immediately ordered the United States Agency for International Development to assist in rescue operations in Turkey.

He further said, "I have already contacted the Turkish officials and informed them - we are ready to provide all necessary assistance." We will continue to monitor the situation closely in coordination with Turkey."

It is reported that the earthquake hit the southern province of Kahramanmaras in the early hours of Monday local time.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.8 and its source was about 24.1 kilometers underground, 26 kilometers east of Nurdagi city in southern Turkey's Gaziantep province, CNN reported.

However, Turkish news agency Anadolu Agency reported that Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority claimed that the earthquake, which struck at 4:17 a.m. local time on Monday, had a magnitude of 7.4 and originated in Pazarchik district. It occurs at a depth of 7 km.

Anadolu Agency reported that the earthquake was felt in other southeastern provinces including Diyarbakır and Gaziantep and neighboring countries including Lebanon and Syria, Cyprus.

According to meteorologists, aftershocks after a strong earthquake can last for hours and even days.

Meanwhile, at least 111 people were killed and more than 500 injured in this earthquake in Syria, according to CNN. These casualties occurred in Aleppo, Latakia, Hama and Tartus areas on the Turkish border. This information was reported by Syrian state television citing the country's Ministry of Health. Sources: BBC, The Guardian, The National News, CNN, Anadolu Agency