The death toll in the earthquake in the areas controlled by the government in Syria has reached 1,414, and 2,357 people were injured, reports SANA news agency, citing the Minister of Health of Syria, Hassan Muhammad al-Ghabash.

The World Health Organization estimated the death toll in the earthquake, including those in uncontrolled areas, at 8,500.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, called the situation in Syria after the earthquake catastrophic.

UNICEF considered possible the outbreak of an epidemic in the country after the quake.

In the early morning hours of February 6, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 occurred in northwestern Syria and southeastern Turkey, and the resultant death toll has exceeded 35,000, writes Kommersant.