Rail Traffic Suspended across Syria After Earthquake
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – After a terrible earthquake struck the country, rail travel has been halted throughout Syria, according to the transport ministry's announcement on Monday.
The ministry stated on its website that technical experts were checking for damage on bridges, railways, roads, and ferries.
The powerful earthquake, which hit southern Turkey and northwestern Syria on Monday morning, resulted in widespread destruction in both countries.
According to the Syrian Health Ministry, 430 people were killed and 1,315 were injured.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Oil and Mineral Resources Ministry reported that the country's largest refinery, the Banias refinery on the Mediterranean coast, was shut down due to a petroleum product leak caused by the tremors. Repairs are expected to take 48 hours. The ministry also mentioned that gas facilities in Aleppo were affected by the earthquake.
Additionally, the earthquake caused damage to several historical sites and artifacts, including the medieval citadel in Aleppo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The facade of the city's main museum also showed cracks, according to authorities.
The army has been deployed to the affected areas to assist with rescue efforts and search for survivors.
In neighboring Turkey, 1,014 people were killed and 5,385 injured, the authorities said. According to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the disaster was the strongest earthquake the country has seen since 1939.
