As night falls: More than 2,300 dead as international community mobilizes
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake was followed by powerful aftershocks hours later, killing more than 2,300 deaths In southeastern Turkey and neighboring Syria, according to interim reports. A large number of victims are still trapped under the rubble of thousands of collapsed buildings. Plenty of rain and snow in some places, combined with an expected drop in temperatures, will make things harder for the homeless, and so will the work of rescue workers.
The first earthquake struck at 4:17 am local time (2:17 am Paris time). The epicenter was located in the Pazarcik district of Turkey’s Kahramanmaras province (southeast), 60 kilometers from the Syrian border.Dozens of aftershocks followed, followed by New magnitude 7.5 earthquakeParis time at 11:24 am, the epicenter was located 4 kilometers southeast of the city of Enotsu in southeastern Turkey.
In Turkey, the death toll rises to 1,541 dead and 9,733 injuredaccording to Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, who mentioned 3,471 collapsed buildings.
In Syria, quake kills 851 and injures at least 2,326According to the latest reports from the Syrian Ministry of Health and aid workers in rebel areas. Of the latter, at least 390 people died. The balance sheets of Adana, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir are still likely to change, especially in Diyarbakir. In Iskenderun and Adiyaman, it was the public hospitals that gave way. Severe weather hitting the mountainous region has paralyzed major airports around Diyarbakir and Malatya, where heavy snowfall continues.
Turkey has not experienced such a violent earthquake since August 17, 1999, which killed 17,000 people, including 1,000 in Istanbul. The quake was felt as far away as Greenland, according to the Danish Geological Institute.
According to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has called for national unity, Turkey has received aid offers from 45 countries. As for the Syrian government, it appeals to the international community to help.Messages of support have poured in from around the world, from U.S. President Joe Biden to Russian President Vladimir Putin, from Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pope Francis, he said “deeply saddened”and recommendations for humanitarian and medical assistance. “Our teams are on the ground assessing needs and providing assistance”said in a statement UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterrescalling on the international community to observe a minute of silence at the organization’s general assembly.
Syria’s ally Kremlin announces rescue team will go there “within the next few hours”. According to the military, 300 Russian servicemen are already contributing help. The Kremlin also clarified that after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Turkish president had accepted, “Help from Russian rescuers” in his country.
Despite his discord with his neighbors, Greece Commitment “supply (…) Full support to Turkey” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called Erdogan to propose “Instant Help” to Turkey. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had approved an aid request from Syria, with which the Jewish state has no diplomatic ties. Damascus denies it. EU has started “Citizen Protection Mechanism” and “Teams from the Netherlands and Romania [étaie]Already on the way.” One hundred and thirty-nine French rescuers and 76 Polish firefighters Must leave at night. Turkey’s ally and neighbor Azerbaijan announces immediate dispatch of 370 aid workers, Qatar and UAE and India Rescue and medical teams and disaster relief equipment.Decided by Ukraine at war “A Large Group of Rescuers”.