Key takeaways:
- The death toll from the earthquake currently stands at 2,600 people, but is expected to rise significantly.
- Local activists in Aleppo reported a tragic scene in which a pregnant mother died before rescue workers could reach her.
- Rescue efforts are ongoing and a newborn baby was rescued from earthquake damage in Syria after its mother died giving birth.
A devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday has left thousands dead and injured, with the death toll expected to rise significantly in the coming days.
Local activists in Aleppo, Syria reported a particularly tragic scene, in which a pregnant mother who was trapped under a collapsed building gave birth to her child under the rubble, but died before rescue workers could reach her.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Monday that the death toll from the earthquake could rise “eightfold” as rescue efforts continue. Catherine Smallwood, WHO’s senior emergency officer for Europe, told the AFP that injuries and fatalities linked to severe earthquakes often rise “significantly” in the week after the disaster.
The tragedy in Aleppo was juxtaposed with a moment of hope, as a volunteer organization shared video showing a young child being pulled alive from the earthquake rubble in the village of Qatma. A newborn baby who was rescued from earthquake damage in Syria after its mother died giving birth was also pictured.
The death toll from the earthquake currently stands at 2,600 people, but Smallwood’s warning suggests that the eventual death toll could rise to more than 20,000. Rescue efforts are ongoing and the full extent of the tragedy is yet to be revealed.
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