By Gabriela Baron
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) raised alarm on the damaged ancient sites in Turkey and Syria following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit both countries early Monday morning.
“In Syria, UNESCO is particularly concerned about the situation in the Ancient city of Aleppo, which is on the List of World Heritage in Danger,” UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said.
Azoulay noted “significant damage” has been reported in the citadel, adding that the western tower of the old city wall has collapsed and several buildings in the souks have been weakened.
“In Turkiye, UNESCO is saddened by the collapse of several buildings in the city of Diyarbakir,” Azoulay added.
Diyarbakir is the home to the World Heritage site Diyarbakir Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape, an important center of the Roman, Sassanid, Byzantine, Islamic, and Ottoman periods.
Other sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List possibly affected were Gobekli Tepe, Nemrut Dag, and Tell of Arslantepe.
Azoulay said UNESCO is mobilizing its experts to establish a precise inventory of the damage to safeguard the sites with the cooperation of national authorities.
The strong tremor partially destroyed the 2,200-year-old ancient Gaziantep Castle which was used as an observation point during the Hittite Empire.
READ MORE: Ancient Gaziantep Castle destroyed by Turkey quake
