Ankara [Turkey], February 8 (ANI): The death toll in the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday has soared to at least 7,926, CNN reported citing officials. At least 5,894 people were killed and 34,810 people injured in Turkey, according to Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, who passed the statement on Tuesday whereas the Syrian Civil Defense, known as the “White Helmets,” on Tuesday revealed that the number of fatalities in northwest Syria rose to 1,220 and injured to 2,600.

On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a state of emergency for three months in 10 southern provinces, which were hit by massive earthquakes, Anadolu Agency reported. Addressing the State Information Coordination Center in the capital Ankara, Erdogan said, “Based on the authority given to us by Article 119 of the Constitution, we decided to declare a state of emergency.” “We will quickly complete the presidential and parliamentary processes about the state of emergency decision, which will cover 10 provinces where earthquakes have occurred and will last for three months,” he added.

Following the devastating earthquake that shook Turkey and Syria on Monday, Mexico’s well-known rescue dogs are travelling to Turkey, CNN reported. Mexico is well known for its specialized and highly trained search and rescue canines. Mexico, a nation prone to earthquakes because of its location at the edge of the North American tectonic plate, routinely employs dogs.

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Pazarcik district of Kahramanmaras province on Monday. Later, a 7.6 magnitude quake centred in Kahramanmaras’s Elbistan district rocked the region, affecting several other provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, and Gaziantep, as per the Anadolu Agency report.

The third earthquake of magnitude 6.0 hit Goksun, Turkey on Monday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. The quake was also felt in several countries, including Syria and Lebanon. India is extending its support to Turkey through the ongoing crisis after the earthquake. The C17 flight with over 50 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and a specially trained dog squad along with necessary equipment, including medical supplies, drilling machines and other equipment required for the aid efforts departed for Turkey on Tuesday.

Several other countries have come forward to aid and assist Turkey after a massive earthquake shattered lives in the country. The quake, one of the strongest to hit the region in more than 100 years, struck 23 kilometres east of Nurdagi, in Turkey’s Gaziantep province, at a depth of 24.1 kilometres, the USGS reported.

Earlier, Turkey declared seven days of national mourning and the flag was lowered to half-mast. (ANI)

India sends fourth batch of medical aid to earthquake hit Turkey

New Delhi [India], February 7 (ANI): India dispatched its fourth batch of aid to Turkey in the Indian Air Force aircraft including 54 members of the medical team from the Indian Army as part of the Humanitarian aid. “The fourth @IAF_MCC aircraft leaves for Turkiye with the remaining component of the field hospital. This includes 54 members of the Indian Army medical team as well as medical and other equipment to establish the facility,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.

India is extending its support to Turkey through the ongoing crisis after the earthquake that jolted the country on Monday and had already sent 3 batches of medical aid for Turkey after the devastating two earthquakes which killed 3,703 people.

Bagchi, earlier, tweeted, “India dispatches an @adgpi field hospital to Turkiye to establish a 30 bedded medical facility. Its first component has left on @IAF_MCC C17 with a 45-member medical team, including critical care specialists & surgeons. Also has an X-ray machine, ventilators, OT & other equipment.”

Earlier, India’s Air Force plane carrying the first batch of disaster relief material and a rescue team to support search and rescue efforts in Turkey reached Adana in the earthquake-hit country.

The C17 flight with over 50 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and a specially trained dog squad along with necessary equipment, including medical supplies, drilling machines and other equipment required for the aid efforts departed for Turkey early this morning.

Turkish Embassy in New Delhi tweeted “First batch of earthquake relief material along with NDRF’s special search & rescue teams and trained dog squads just arrived in Turkiye. Thank you, India for your support and solidarity.”

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar wrote, “First Indian C17 flight with more than 50 @NDRFHQ Search & Rescue personnel, specially trained dog squads, drilling machines, relief material, medicines, and other necessary utilities & equipment reaches Adana, Turkiye.”The foreign minister further said that that a second plane is also getting ready for departure.

According to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Monday, a meeting was conducted where it was decided that the NDRF’s search and rescue teams, medical teams, and relief supplies would be sent out right away in collaboration with the Turkish government. Several other countries have come forward to aid and assist Turkey after a massive earthquake shattered lives in the country. (ANI)