The World Well being Group mentioned Tuesday that final week’s large earthquake, the epicentre of which was in Turkey, constituted the “worst pure catastrophe” in 100 years in its Europe area.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake, adopted by a serious aftershock, on February 6 has now killed greater than 35,000 folks in Turkey and neighbouring Syria.

“We’re witnessing the worst pure catastrophe within the WHO European area for a century and we’re nonetheless studying about its magnitude,” Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, advised a press convention.

The WHO’s European area includes 53 nations, together with Turkey. Syria is a member of the WHO’s neighbouring Jap Mediterranean area.

Kluge additionally mentioned the well being physique had “initiated the biggest deployment of emergency medical groups” within the 75-year historical past of the WHO European area.

“Twenty-two emergency medical groups have arrived in Turkey thus far,” Kluge famous, including they’d combine into “Turkey’s ongoing well being response”.

The confirmed dying toll following the earthquake stands at 35,331, as officers and medics mentioned 31,643 folks had died in Turkey and a minimum of 3,688 in Syria.

The toll has barely modified in Syria for a number of days and is anticipated to rise.

“The wants are big, rising by the hour. Some 26 million folks throughout each nations want humanitarian help,” Kluge mentioned.