As rescue workers race to find survivors in Turkey and Syria after a devastating earthquake struck, a large fire that broke out at a section of a port in an earthquake-stricken city in southeast Turkey is raging for a second day. So far, around 4,800 people have been killed.
The toll is likely to climb as freezing weather and multiple aftershocks are hurting the rescue efforts despite massive international assistance. Turkey and Syria were hit by 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes a few hours apart.
The fire was caused by containers toppling as a result of the earthquake that struck southeast Turkey on Monday. A Turkish Coast Guard vessel is assisting in efforts to extinguish the fire.
Reportedly, thick black smoke could be seen rising from the site at Iskenderun Port on the Mediterranean Sea.
According to a Turkish shipping agent, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) terminal that exports Azeri crude oil will be closed through February 8 while damage caused by the earthquake is assessed.
