Mideast Earthquakes Death Toll Reaches Over 21,000

Four days ago, back-to-back earthquakes rocked southern Turkey and Syria. The initial death counts reached several thousand quickly. As of this morning, the combined death tolls of both countries has reached over 21,000. By the time this article is published, it could very well have surpassed 22,000.

At least 18,342 people have died in Turkey alone. This surpasses the death toll of the 1999 Istanbul earthquake, which cost roughly 17,100 lives.

The humanitarian and political fallout of the earthquakes is increasing every day—and it looks like the disaster will have repercussions lasting well into the future. To learn more, read “Why Did God Allow the Earthquake?” and “Is the Earthquake What Bashar Assad Needed?”