[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] As the devastating earthquake that struck T?rkiye (Turkey) and Syria on the 6th (local time) enters its fifth day, approximately 21,500 deaths have been reported in the two countries.
According to foreign media including the US CNN on the 10th (local time), 18,342 people have died in T?rkiye and 3,377 in Syria so far. The combined death toll in both countries is 21,719. This number surpasses the death toll of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (18,500 deaths).
Many people are still trapped under building debris, so the death toll is expected to rise further. Murat Kurum, T?rkiye's Minister of Urbanization, stated that about 12,000 buildings in T?rkiye have collapsed or suffered severe damage. Turkish earthquake scientist Obgun Ahmet also estimated that up to 200,000 people may be trapped under buildings.
Meanwhile, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated in a report released that day that there is a 24% probability that the death toll from this earthquake will exceed 100,000. This is a 10 percentage point increase from the estimate two days earlier (14%).
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
