After the devastating earthquake in the Turkish-Syrian border area, the total death toll in both countries has risen above 15,000. According to a new balance published by authorities and rescuers on Thursday evening, 12,391 people have died in Turkey. In Syria, the death toll rose to 2,992. Visiting two particularly affected regions, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “You cannot prepare for an earthquake like this.”
At the same time, Erdogan admitted to “deficiencies” in crisis management after Wednesday’s disaster. But now it is “time of unity and solidarity”. “I can’t stand people running negative campaigns at a time like this,” the head of state criticized the opposition. This had previously partially blamed the president for the catastrophe. “If there is one person responsible, it is Erdogan,” said Kemal Kilicdaroglu, head of the main opposition party CHP.
Reporter: “Rescuers refuse to give up”
Many people are still missing under the rubble in both countries. More than 6,000 buildings collapsed in Turkey alone, according to Anadolu news agency. More than 13 million people were affected by the massive quakes. About 8,000 people have been rescued from the rubble in Turkey so far, according to broadcaster TRT World. A reporter for the TV channel reported on the desperate fight against the clock: “Rescuers refuse to give up.” But the joyful moments about a new rescue became more and more rare.
Yet there are still success stories: about 64 hours after the earthquake in the Turkish province of Kahramanmaras, a 24-year-old man was rescued. According to information from Wednesday evening, a 75-year-old woman was rescued from the rubble in Hatay province 60 hours after the natural disaster. A seven-month-old baby has been found alive in the southern province of Adiyaman. The rescue teams work tirelessly to find any survivors. The critical survival limit is usually around 72 hours. Photos from the disaster areas also showed excavators clearing debris on Thursday evening. Relatives of those buried awaited news of relief as temperatures hovered near freezing.
Situation in Syria even more dramatic
In northern Syria in particular, the scale of the disaster is difficult to oversee. Aid is progressing slowly – not least because of the political situation in the civil war country. According to the UN, emergency aid was also made more difficult by a destroyed road to the Bab al-Hawa border crossing between Turkey and Syria, which has since been repaired, according to the World Health Organization. The United Nations hopes that trucks will be able to cross the border again on Thursday.
With a magnitude of 7.7 to 7.8, the quake shook the area on the border between Turkey and Syria early Monday morning. Another magnitude 7.5 earthquake followed in the same region on Monday afternoon. Thousands of buildings collapsed.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
