
MOSCOW, Feb 7 It was impossible to predict the earthquake in Turkey the day before , it was predicted in the next five years on a territory larger than the size of the country, so any preventive measures were meaningless, said Petr Shebalin, director of the Institute of Earthquake Prediction Theory and Mathematical Geophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
«While this is impossible in principle, no one can,» Shebalin answered the question whether it was possible to predict the earthquake in Turkey.
Cities in ruins: earthquake in Turkey and Syria
An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 hit the Turkish province of Kahramanmaras on Monday night.

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An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 occurred on Monday night in the Turkish province of Kahramanmarash.
The epicenter of the tremors was located 27 kilometers from Gaziantep, whose population exceeds a million people.

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The epicenter of the tremors was located 27 kilometers from Gaziantep, whose population exceeds a million people.
Three dozen aftershocks followed, the most powerful one with a magnitude of 6.6.

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This was followed by three dozen aftershocks, the most powerful one with a magnitude of 6.6.
In Syria, the historical center of Aleppo was badly damaged. Tremors were also felt in Beirut and Iraq.

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The historical center in Syria was badly damaged Aleppo. Tremors were also felt in Beirut and Iraq.
"The walls in our apartment cracked, we are now thinking of looking for a new home. There is severe destruction in Latakia,” said a resident of Syria. The walls of the apartment cracked, we are now thinking of looking for a new house. There is severe destruction in Latakia,” a resident of Syria said.
Thousands of buildings were destroyed in different cities. The photo shows a family near their home after the earthquake in Turkey.

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Thousands of buildings were destroyed in different cities. The photo shows a family near their home after the earthquake in Turkey.
More than two thousand people became victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

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More than two thousand people became victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
Forecast the death toll not yet possible, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan admitted.

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Predicting the death toll is still impossible, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledged.
Erdogan called this earthquake the biggest natural disaster in Turkey since 1939.

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Erdogan called this earthquake the biggest natural disaster for Turkey since 1939.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense is mobilizing all its units and formations to help the victims and eliminate the consequences of the emergency.

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The Syrian Defense Ministry is mobilizing all its units and formations to help the victims and eliminate the consequences of the emergency.
Many countries expressed their condolences to Syria and Turkey and offered assistance.

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Many countries expressed condolences to Syria and Turkey and offered assistance.
The Russian Emergencies Ministry announced its readiness to send two planes with rescuers to Turkey.

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The Russian Emergencies Ministry announced its readiness to send two aircraft with rescuers to Turkey.
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An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 occurred on Monday night in the Turkish province of Kahramanmarash.
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The epicenter of the tremors was located 27 kilometers from Gaziantep, whose population exceeds a million people.
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Three dozen aftershocks followed, the most powerful one with a magnitude of 6.6.
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In Syria, the historical center of Aleppo was badly damaged. Tremors were also felt in Beirut and Iraq.
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"The walls in our apartment cracked, we are now thinking of looking for a new home. There is severe destruction in Latakia,” said a resident of Syria.
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Thousands of buildings were destroyed in different cities. The photo shows a family near their home after the earthquake in Turkey.
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More than two thousand people became victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
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It is still impossible to predict the death toll, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledged.
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Erdogan called this earthquake the biggest natural disaster for Turkey since 1939.
10 out of 12< p>The Syrian Ministry of Defense is mobilizing all its units and formations to help the victims and eliminate the consequences of the emergency.
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Many countries expressed their condolences to Syria and Turkey and offered assistance.
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The Russian Emergencies Ministry announced its readiness to send two planes with rescuers to Turkey.
On Monday morning, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck southeastern Turkey, the strongest since 1939, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
«There was a forecast at our institute… according to which an earthquake of magnitude 8 was expected in the next 5 years on a large territory exceeding the size of Turkey. There was no point in taking any preventive measures according to this forecast, because with a forecast for such a territory and such a period of time, they are not economically feasible,» Shebalin said.
According to the latest data, 2379 people died in Turkey as a result of the earthquake, more than 14 thousand were injured. Damage was also reported in several regions of Syria, tremors were also felt in the Lebanese capital Beirut. In Syria, the number of victims at the moment is more than 700 people, more than 1430 were injured.

