COPENHAGEN: The World Health Organization said Tuesday that last week’s massive earthquake, the epicentre of which was in Turkiye, constituted the “worst natural disaster” in 100 years in its Europe region.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake, followed by a major aftershock, on February 6 has now killed more than 35,000 people in Turkiye and neighbouring Syria.

“We are witnessing the worst natural disaster in the WHO European region for a century and we are still learning about its magnitude,” Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, told a press conference.

More than 7mn children affected by Turkiye-Syria quake: UN

The WHO’s European region comprises 53 countries, including Turkiye. Syria is a member of the WHO’s neighbouring Eastern Mediterranean region.

Kluge also said the health body had “initiated the largest deployment of emergency medical teams” in the 75-year history of the WHO European region.

“Twenty-two emergency medical teams have arrived in Turkiye so far,” Kluge noted, adding they would integrate into “Turkiye’s ongoing health response”.

The confirmed death toll following the earthquake stands at 35,331, as officials and medics said 31,643 people had died in Turkiye and at least 3,688 in Syria.

The toll has barely changed in Syria for several days and is expected to rise.

“The needs are huge, increasing by the hour. Some 26 million people across both countries need humanitarian assistance,” Kluge said.