Thousands displaced by flooding in northern Syria after earthquakes trigger dam breach
Northern Syria is facing a dual humanitarian crisis after a series of devastating earthquakes in Turkey caused a dam breach along the Orontes river, resulting in widespread flooding and forcing thousands to evacuate their homes.
According to reports from the United Nations, a dam on the Orontes river in the Salqin subdistrict was breached after the earthquakes on February 6, 2023, including M7.8 and M7.5. The river was already swollen from heavy rain, which only exacerbated the situation.
Around 500 households in the village of Al-Tloul were evacuated on February 8, and by February 11, 1 000 homes in nearby villages, including Hardana, Delbiya, Jakara, and Hamziyeh, were flooded. Approximately 7 000 people were forced to evacuate as a result.
Relief efforts are underway to assist those affected by the flooding, but the situation remains dire. The earthquakes have only added to the already challenging humanitarian situation in the region, and the international community is working together to provide support and assistance to those in need.
The quakes left a total of 37 357 people dead by February 13, including 31 643 in Turkey and 5 714 in Syria. This makes it the deadliest earthquake in Turkey in over 80 years and one of the deadliest in the country’s history, as well as the 5th deadliest earthquake globally since 2002.
Featured image credit: Copernicus EU/Sentinel-2, EO Browser, The Watchers
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