World

Key developments in the aftermath of Turkiye, Syria quakes

By PTI Updated: Feb 16, 2023 6:37 pm

Syria TURKIYE QUAKES — Residents and rescue team members keep warm next to a fire as they search for their relatives among destroyed building in Antakya, southern Turkey, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. More than 35,000 people have died in Turkey as a result of last week’s earthquake, making it the deadliest such disaster since the country’s founding 100 years ago. While the death toll is almost certain to rise even further, many of the tens of thousands of survivors left homeless were still struggling to meet basic needs, like finding shelter from the bitter cold. AP/PTI(AP02_16_2023_000013B)

Key developments in the aftermath of Turkiye, Syria quakes

The number of fatalities in the earthquakes that devastated parts of southern Turkiye and northern Syria is continuing to rise. As chances of finding more survivors have dwindled, some foreign search teams are beginning to leave.

Here’s a look at key developments Thursday from the aftermath of the earthquakes:

[bsa_pro_ad_space id=6]

DEATH TOLL RISES

Turkiye’s disaster management agency, AFAD, has raised the number of fatalities in Turkiye from the magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 quakes that struck nine hours apart to 36,187. That pushed the combined death toll for Turkiye and Syria to 39,875.

More than 108,000 people were injured in Turkiye in the quakes that struck on Feb. 6, AFAD said.

Syria turkeyi earthquakes — Rescue team members carry a body of a person found among the rubble of a destroyed building in Antakya, southern Turkey, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. More than 35,000 people have died in Turkey as a result of last week’s earthquake, making it the deadliest such disaster since the country’s founding 100 years ago. While the death toll is almost certain to rise even further, many of the tens of thousands of survivors left homeless were still struggling to meet basic needs, like finding shelter from the bitter cold. AP/PTI(AP02_16_2023_000014B)

The death toll is certain to increase as search teams sifting through the rubble find more bodies.

Powerful earthquake rocks Turkey, Syria; kills more than 2500

Rescuers find more alive in Turkiye on 8th day of quake

SOME SEARCH TEAMS DEPART

Onlookers at Istanbul Airport clapped to display gratitude to a 27-member team of Greek rescuers who were heading back home after ending their mission to search for survivors in the hard-hit city of Adiyaman.

Turkiye CRISIS — A man writes a text with contact details in case a body is retrieved under the rubble of a destroyed building in Antakya, southeastern Turkey, Monday, February 13, 2023. Thousands left homeless by a massive earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria a week ago packed into crowded tents or lined up in the streets Monday for hot meals as the desperate search for survivors entered what was likely its last hours. (AP/PTI)(AP02_14_2023_000072B)

Team leader Ioannis Papastathis told Turkiye’s state-run Anadolu Agency late Wednesday that he was leaving Turkiye with “unforgettable memories.”

“On the one hand, there was love and the warm welcome of the people, on the other hand, suffering. The destruction was huge. The weather was cold. These affected me a lot,” the agency quoted him as saying.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said close to 8,000 rescue and aid workers from 74 countries were still assisting Turkish teams in their efforts. Around 4,200 personnel from 15 countries have left, he said.

“I would like to thank each and every one of them,” Cavusoglu said during a joint news conference with his visiting counterpart from Costa Rica.

WORST DISASTER ON NATO TERRITORY

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has described the powerful earthquake that struck Turkiye as the military alliance’s worst natural disaster.

“This is the deadliest natural disaster on alliance territory since the foundation of NATO,” Stoltenberg told reporters during a joint news conference with Cavusoglu in Ankara on Thursday. “We salute the courage of the Turkish first responders and we mourn with you.”

Turkiye Syria crisis — Emergency workers and medics rescue a woman out of the debris of a collapsed building in Elbistan, Kahramanmaras, in southern Turkey, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. Rescuers raced Tuesday to find survivors in the rubble of thousands of buildings brought down by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake and multiple aftershocks that struck eastern Turkey and neighboring Syria. AP/PTI(AP02_08_2023_000004B)

Stoltenberg, who is scheduled to visit the disaster area later, said the alliance had deployed thousands of emergency response personnel to support relief efforts.

“The focus going forward will be on reconstruction and supporting the displaced,” Stoltenberg said. He added that the alliance will be setting up temporary housing for thousands of people displaced by the quake while also using its airlifting capabilities to transport tens of thousands of tents.

Antakya (Turkiye), Feb. 16 (AP/PTI)

By PTI Updated: Feb 16, 2023 6:37:40 pm

World

Key developments in the aftermath of Turkiye, Syria quakes

Key developments in the aftermath of Turkiye, Syria quakes

Subscribe to our newsletter