Severe earthquakes: the number of fatalities in Turkey and Syria continues to rise, helpers rescue almost 8,000 people buried under rubble

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Helpers rescue a quake survivor from rubble in Iskenderun, Turkey

Photo:

UMIT BEKTAS / REUTERS

The situation in the affected areas

After the earthquake disaster in the Turkish-Syrian border area, relatives and rescue workers searched for buried people until late at night.

The Ministry of Health sent 4,200 helpers to the disaster area, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca wrote on Twitter late Monday evening.

This number continues to rise.

Injured and sick earthquake victims would first receive medical care in tents and then be transferred to hospitals, Koca wrote in another tweet.

We are there with all our strength to alleviate the suffering.

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay announced late Monday evening that 7,840 people had already been rescued.

However, the death toll continued to rise.

According to the latest information, more than 4,200 people have died in southern Turkey and northern Syria.

At least 15,000 other people were injured by the tremors.

• The chairman of the Turkish civil protection authority Afad, Yunus Sezer, said the number of deaths in his own country was 2,921 on Tuesday night.

  In addition, 15,834 "our citizens" were injured.

• According to the Ministry of Health and the rescue organization White Helmets, at least 1,300 people died in Syria on Monday evening.

Temperatures in the disaster area are around freezing.

Thousands of people have become homeless, according to aid organizations.

Many people cannot return to their homes because they have collapsed or it would be too dangerous to return given the numerous aftershocks.

According to the aid organization Care, an impending snowstorm could significantly aggravate the situation in the earthquake areas.

Many roads are impassable.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke of the worst earthquake since 1939 and announced a one-week national mourning.

Flags from all representations in Germany and abroad should be flown at half-mast until Sunday.

National mourning ends on February 12 after sunset.

The geologist Charlotte Krawczyk from the Geoforschungszentrum Potsdam told ARD that there hadn't been such a large earthquake in the affected area for around 900 years.

It is not possible to predict whether and when further major earthquakes will follow.

A new earthquake hit central Turkey early Tuesday morning.

According to the European earthquake monitoring station EMSC, it had a magnitude of 5.6, meaning that the epicenter was at a depth of two kilometers.

Nothing is known about possible casualties or damage.

International Reactions

• Chancellor Olaf Scholz

  (SPD) promised help from Germany.

  Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) announced that the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) was preparing to deliver emergency generators, tents and blankets.

  Emergency shelters and water treatment facilities could also be provided.

  EU countries want to coordinate with each other.

• US President Joe Biden

  personally pledged his support to Erdoğan.

  The two spoke on the phone on Monday, the White House said.

  In the conversation, Biden assured that the United States was providing NATO ally Turkey with “all the necessary support” to deal with the tragedy.

  Rescue teams from the US would be quickly dispatched to Turkey to support rescue and recovery work in the earthquake area and to help local people.

• Despite tensions with Turkey, Greece

  sent a rescue team with sniffer dogs to the earthquake area on Monday.

• Australia

  will send 10 million Australian dollars (6.4 million euros) in emergency aid through the International Red Cross, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday.

  "Australia's aid will target those most in need."

• New Zealand

  wants to donate 1.5 million New Zealand dollars (880,000 euros).

  “Our hearts are with those affected.

  New Zealand will also contribute to the international effort,” said Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.

  The money will help Red Cross teams bring essential supplies such as food, tents, blankets, medicine and psychological support to the earthquake area.

• Great Britain, India, Pakistan, Finland, Sweden, Israel, Iran and Russia, among others, also pledged help.

aar/dpa/Reuters/AFP