UNESCO will involve its experts to assess the damage caused to cultural heritage sites in Syria and Turkey as a result of the earthquake, the Associated Press reports.
As a result of the earthquake, the fortresses of historical significance of Gaziantep and Diyarbakir, belonging to the monuments of the Roman, Sasanian, Byzantine, Islamic and Ottoman periods, the gardens of Khevsel in Turkey, as well as the citadel of Aleppo in Syria, were damaged.
Of these, the Diyarbakir Fortress and the Khevsel Gardens in Turkey and the Aleppo Citadel in Syria are UNESCO Cultural Heritage sites. In addition, experts intend to assess the condition of the Gebekli-teke temple complex and the Arslantepe mound.
Specialists of the International Council for the Preservation of Monuments and Places of Interest take part in the work. UNESCO noted the need to immediately ensure the safety of cultural heritage sites.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 occurred at 04:17 local time near the city of Gaziantep, a key industrial center near the border with Syria. Tremors were also felt in Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Greece, Cyprus and Israel. At the moment, about 5 thousand people have become victims of the natural disaster in Turkey and Syria.
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