Two and a half weeks after the earthquake disaster in the Syrian-Turkish border area, more than 50,000 people were killed. Aftershocks are still shaking the region and making rescue efforts more difficult. The areas were initially difficult to access.
The aftershocks often cause panic among residents. According to the Turkish government, 20 million people in the country are affected by the consequences of the earthquake. The United Nations estimates that 8.8 million people in Syria will be affected. There have been no more reports of rescue of survivors in recent days.
More than 9000 aftershocks
The series of earthquakes began on February 6, when two earthquakes of 7.7 and a little later of 7.6 shook southeastern Turkey and northern Syria. More than 9,000 aftershocks followed, according to Turkish sources. The number of deaths has now risen to more than 50,000, of which 44,218 in Turkey and 5,900 in Syria. Some expect tens of thousands more to die.
“Almost hopeless situation”
Among them is the pope’s special envoy to the earthquake zones of Syria. In an interview published by the Vatican, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti said that so far only the number of victims whose bodies were found is known. However, tens of thousands of bodies are said to still lie under the rubble of the buildings. Gugerotti, head of the Vatican’s Eastern Church authority, has been visiting the region around Aleppo in recent days. He described the situation as almost hopeless. It is almost impossible to provide aid to the country, which has been largely devastated by war and earthquakes.
In Syria, the northwest of the country is affected. Due to years of bombing and fighting, many people there were already living in precarious conditions before the earthquakes. Eleven provinces in Turkey were affected by the earthquake. The mountains of rubble and rubble are unprecedented, said Louisa Vinton, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) representative in Turkey. According to the Turkish government, more than 173,000 buildings have been recorded as collapsed or severely damaged. Turkish architects blame the government for subsequently legalizing thousands of unauthorized buildings.
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.
