A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 has hit Turkey, causing widespread destruction and loss of life, more than 2,651 people died. and thousands more are still under the rubble including Somali students. The hardest hit area was the city of Kahramanmaras in the southeast of the country.
According to the Union of Somali Students in Turkey (UMASET), the earthquake has had a devastating impact on Somali students living in Kahramanmaras. Some of their houses have collapsed and they are still in the process of being rescued. The organization reported 9 Somali students dead and 15 others missing as of this evening. The public is asked to help find the missing students in the area.
In addition to Kahramanmaras, the earthquake has also affected other cities in eastern Turkey, including Gaziantep, Malatya, Sanliurfa, Osmaniye, and Adana. The full extent of the damage and casualties is still being assessed.
The thoughts and prayers of the Somali community are with the affected students and all those affected by this tragedy. UMASET is calling for continued support for the students and the families affected by this devastating natural disaster.
