Deadly Earthquake in Turkey
Listen to the story (Canadian accent)
It has been reported that almost 3,000 people have died in Turkey after a large earthquake. Rescue teams are working to save people trapped in damaged buildings.
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria early Monday morning. Large buildings, including hospitals and apartment blocks were completely destroyed. Thousands of people are injured and homeless.
In Syria, around 1,444 people have been reported killed and about 3,500 injured.
Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) says that about 8,000 people have been rescued from 4,758 buildings that were destroyed by the earthquake and the aftershocks.
This earthquake has been the deadliest in Turkey since 1999, when a similar earthquake killed over 17,000 people.
On Tuesday, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit central Turkey.
The freezing winter weather made it difficult to search for survivors during the night. The low temperature has made it worse for people who are trapped or without a home.
Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, said that everyone was “putting their heart and soul” into the rescue operations, but the winter weather was making it difficult. He also said that 45 countries had offered to help Turkey with the rescue operations.
In Syria, the destruction from the earthquake has been added to 11 years of destruction from their civil war. A UN worker said it was difficult to help people because the roads are also damaged.
Vocabulary20 words
- It has been reported that
- someone said; it was written that; information was shared; it seems that
- Earthquake
- A natural event where the ground shakes and moves suddenly and strongly, caused by the movement of rocks deep beneath the earth's surface.
- Rescue
- to save someone or something from danger; to help or free someone
- Trapped
- stuck; closed in; can’t escape; can’t go away
- Magnitude
- The size or strength of something, especially an earthquake; the measure of an earthquake’s strength/size
- Hit
- To strike or impact something with force/power
- Apartment block
- A big building with many separate homes or apartments
- Destroy
- to “end” something by damaging it or attacking it; wreck; demolish
- Injured
- hurt; wounded; harmed; to have damage to your body
- Homeless
- to have no place to live
- Disaster
- A sudden and terrible event, such as an earthquake, flood, or fire, that causes great harm and damage
- Authority
- a government organization that controls and manages activities in a certain field or type of work
- Aftershock
- A smaller earthquake that occurs after a larger earthquake
- Deadly
- Capable of causing death; fatal; very dangerous; something that can kill you
- Survivor
- someone still living after dangerous event;
- Put your heart and soul into “something”
- To do something with all your effort, energy, and dedication; to try really hard and do your best at something
- Operation
- A planned and organized project/mission, especially a military or medical one
- Offer
- provide; supply; propose; to make something available for sale or use
- Destruction
- the action of destroying something; the state or fact of being destroyed or ruined; very bad damage
- Civil war
- A war between two or more groups within a country, usually because of political, religious or economic issues
Discussion questions
- In your opinion, what steps should be taken to better prepare for and respond to natural disasters in the future?
- Can you think of any other examples of natural disasters that have had devastating effects on communities?
- Do you think it's appropriate for other countries to offer help in this disaster? What role do you think governments and international organizations should play in responding to natural disasters?
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