New Delhi: More than 2,300 people were killed in Turkey and Syria after three massive earthquakes – of 7.8, 7.6 and 6.0 magnitudes – struck central Turkey within a span of 12 hours on Monday, February 6, Indian Express reported.A third quake of 6-magnitude on the Richter Scale struck Central Turkey within hours after two powerful earthquakes earlier had claimed the lives of at least 1,400 people.The first quake of 7.8-magnitude hit southern Turkey and northern Syria early Monday, AFP reported said. In less than 12 hours, a second massive earthquake hit the south-east of Turkey.According to the Guardian, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described it as the country’s largest disaster since 1939.In 1939, an earthquake of the same magnitude killed 30,000 people, according to the United States Geological Survey.The first earthquake struck near the city of Gaziantep, a key industrial hub near the border with Syria.The second quake measured 7.7 magnitude on the Richter scale, and was 67 kilometre north-east of Kahramanmaraş, Turkey, at a depth of 2 km, as per the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre.Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority stated that it was slightly smaller at 7.6 magnitude and at a greater depth, the Guardian said.Death toll climbing“The earthquake toll rose to 237 killed and 639 injured,” Ahmed Damiriyye, an aide to Syria’s health minister, said on Syrian state television, in the morning.Earlier, Syria’s assistant health minister Ahmad Dumeira had said at least 42 people were killed in government-held areas of the country, while doctors in rebel-held areas also reported dozens of deaths in the aftermath.“We fear that the deaths are in the hundreds,” Muheeb Qaddour, a doctor in the Syrian town of Atmed, told the Associated Press.“We are under extreme pressure.”Damn, this looks like it comes from some apocalyptic movie… Turkey today. pic.twitter.com/5BXMhNVW5v— UkraineMaps (@MapsUkraine) February 6, 2023Rescue efforts underwayRescue workers have been deployed in Turkey and Syria to pull survivors from the rubble.“I convey my best wishes to all our citizens who were affected by the earthquake,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter.“We hope that we will get through this disaster together as soon as possible and with the least damage.”Tremors could also be felt as far as Lebanon, Cyprus, and Egypt.Southeast Turkey was hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that lasted 90 seconds. Over 100 buildings were reported to have collapsed in my home town alone (Malatya).People waiting for rescue are reporting their locations at #DEPREMOLDU pic.twitter.com/RVN3acqBcc— Eren Bali (@erenbali) February 6, 2023Buildings destroyed in Turkey, SyriaEarly reports said buildings had been destroyed in a number of provinces in southern Turkey.The governor of Malatya Province said some 130 buildings had collapsed in the regional capital.Syria’s state media also reported that some buildings had collapsed in Aleppo and the central city of Hama. Tremors were also felt in Damascus.The head of Syria’s National Earthquake Center, Raed Ahmed, told local media that this was “historically, the biggest earthquake recorded in the history of the center.”The White Helmets rescue organisation said buildings also collapsed in the rebel-held areas of northwestern Syria, adding that the situation was “disastrous.”International supportPrime Minister Narendra Modi was among the world leaders who reached out to Turkey. “India is ready to provide all possible help to the earthquake-affected people,” ANI reported Modi as saying.“We are all looking at the destructive earthquake that hit Turkey. There are reports of the deaths of several people as well as damage. Damages are suspected even in countries near Turkey. The sympathies of the 140 crore people of India are with all earthquake-affected people.”Russian President Vladimir Putin offered assistance to Syria and Turkey. “Please accept my deep condolences on the numerous human casualties and large-scale destruction caused by a powerful earthquake in your country,” Putin said in his message to Turkey President Tayyip Erdogan.“We are ready to provide the necessary assistance in this regard.”With inputs from DW.Published on January 6 at 10:21 am, this story is being republished on the same date at 12:50 pm, and again being republished at 3:40 pm, and at 5:44 pm with an update on the second earthquake in less than 12 hours and death toll rising to over 1,400. This copy was updated again at 7:20 pm with the news on the third earthquake, and later at 9:35 pm on the same day with the rise in the death toll.