Live coverage of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria prior to 12:30 (Madrid time) is available on our Twitter page.
Aftershocks felt across the East Mediterranean, according to Aljazeera. The Qatari channel explains that the North African country of Egypt, people felt the aftershock. Lebanon, Cyprus, and Greece included.
15:28 (Rome and Madrid Time) Sunset after one hour in Syria. Rescue groups will find it hard to carry on their efforts. Urgent meeting headed by President Assad.
15:36 Rome and Madrid Time: Death toll soars up to 1400 in Turkey.
15:41: Syrian and Lebanese officials discuss assistance. Meanwhile Spain joined the countries that promised to send urgent rescuers and assistance to Turkey.
15:46: Almayadeen TV Channel: More international solidarity with Turkey than Syria, according to Ridha Al Basha, the channel’s correspondent in Aleppo, Syria. He explains that the Turkish city of Gaziantep is just 100 KM from Aleppo.
15:53: Aljazeera Arabic: Turkey latest death toll has reached 1498 while it peaked at around 900 in Syria. The rescue groups are finding it hard to reach people under the rubble. Meanwhile, the Turkish presidency announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed solidarity and readiness to provide aid to Turkey in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
15:58: Idlib, under the control of the Syrian opposition, has not yet received foreign assistance, despite call for foreign technical and humanitarian aid.
16:12: Algeria to send 89 rescuers to Turkey.
16:20: Turkish Red Crescent calls on Turkish citizens to donate and provide aid. The Turkish authorities also called on people to avoid forming huge crowds that could impede rescuers. The areas hit by the earthquake are close to the Mediterranean but Tsunamis are not likely.
The Turkish authorities also suspended many scheduled flights. Despite the Turkish previous experience with earthquakes, the magnitude of today’s was beyond their capacities.
16:40 Turkish vice President says more than 1500 victims and 9733 injured in the aftermath of the Earthquake, so far. He also said that universities, schools, and dorms will be used to shelter people.
17:50- new erathquake hits center Turkey.
18:08: Tunisia announces dispatching emergency assistance to Syria and Turkey:
18: 50
