Eight dead, hundreds injured due to new earthquake in Turkey

The Turkish disaster management authority said six people were killed and another 294 were injured in Turkey.

While in Syria, a woman and a girl died as a result of panic during the earthquake in the provinces of Hama and Tartus, pro-government media said.

The quake's epicentre was in the town of Defne, in Turkey's Hatay province, which borders Syria.

The quake also felt in Jordan, Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, and Egypt, followed by a second quake of 5.8 degrees of Riterre.

Hatay was one of the most hit provinces in Turkey in the February 6th earthquake. Thousands of buildings were destroyed two weeks ago, and Monday's earthquake further damaged them.

According to Turkish authorities, more than 41,000 people have died in Turkey alone in the February 6th earthquake, until more than 385,000 settlements have been destroyed or seriously damaged. And in Syria some 5,000 people died.

The European Commission, along with the Swedish presidency of the Council, will organise a major donor conference in Brussels on March 16th to collect relief contributions for Turkey and Syria, in the face of the terrible consequences of the earthquake that has hit parts of these two countries.

The EU has so far helped Turkey and Syria, through sending teams for quick intervention, but also through material assistance.

While the U.S. State Department has said that total US aid for earthquake victims in Syria and Turkey has reached $185m. / REL

( Archive photo)