As the hours pass, the hopes of finding survivors under the wreckage dwindle. The number of missing is estimated at tens of thousands, which means that the death toll can reach nightmarish proportions.
Turkey is facing one of its greatest tragedies six days after the deadly earthquake, which left tens of thousands dead, hundreds of thousands injured and homeless whose number is estimated at over a million.
As the hours pass, the hopes of finding survivors under the wreckage dwindle. The number of missing is estimated at tens of thousands, which means that the death toll can reach nightmarish proportions.
According to the latest data from the Turkish Disaster Management Agency, the dead have arrived in Turkey the 19,875, while the victims in Syria have reached almost 4,000 (3,466). The victims in Turkey and Syria now exceed 23,000. (23,341)
It is the deadliest earthquake to hit Turkey since 1939, when 33,000 people lost their lives, while it is deadlier than the 1999 earthquake in Izmir with 17,000 dead. At the same time, as the hours pass, the hopes of finding survivors in the ruins fade.
Above of 141,000 rescuers, among them personnel from foreign countries are currently working in the areas affected by the earthquake, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier. Erdogan said more than 77,700 people have been injured in last Monday’s deadly earthquakes.
Trying to give an answer to the anger of the citizens, Erdogan admitted yesterday that the aid “doesn’t arrive as fast as expected”, while he has promised to offer 10,000 Turkish lira (494 euros) to the citizens affected by the earthquake and a year’s rent to those who lost their homes.
“We will offer 10,000 Turkish liras (494 euros) to our citizens. In addition, for citizens who are not living in tents and who do not want to live in tents, we will ensure that they can move into housing and cover their rent,” he said
“The engineer, the architect, the surveyor, the municipality, I want as a people to demand an account from all of them” said a resident of the area to Manolis Kostidis.
“The disaster affected so many buildings (…) that unfortunately, we were not able to provide emergency assistance as quickly as we had hoped,” admitted the head of the Turkish state during his visit to the city of Antiyaman (south), which has been seriously affected by the disaster.
Animals are also victims of the disaster:
From the earthquake zones 🙏🥹#Deprem#Earthquake pic.twitter.com/V0g9dIK5PW
— Revolutionaries (@statelessidea) February 10, 2023
Erdogan had already on Wednesday acknowledged “gaps” in the authorities’ response to the earthquake, saying it was “impossible to be prepared for such a disaster”.
The embattled Turkish president, who has been in power for 20 years and wants to stay on after elections scheduled for May 14, has been heavily criticized by survivors for the slowness of aid arriving in the affected areas.
In Antiyaman province, one of the worst affected by the earthquakes, Mehmet Yildirim told AFP yesterday “I didn’t see anyone before 14:00 on the second day after the earthquake”, i.e. 34 hours after the first tremor. “Neither the state nor the police nor soldiers. Same on you! You left us to our fate.”
Many people complain of shortages in available means, especially supplies. AFP noted on Thursday the deployment of more hoists and rescuers – especially foreigners – in the city.
“Maybe during this period there have been shortages, technical problems, but we are on the side of our people with all our means,” Erdogan insisted.
At least nine children were rescued on Friday, according to videos released by disaster agencies, as reported by Reuters, giving joy and hope to tired rescue crews who have been working non-stop since last Monday under difficult weather conditions.
A miracle after 110 hours. 20-year-old Muhammed is out of the rubble, alive. #TurkeyEarthquake #deprem #earthquakeinturkey #earthquake #TurkeyQuake #türkiye
— Nesrin Akyüz Aydin • 🇹🇷 • (@nisrineaydin) February 10, 2023
Meanwhile, Mr correspondent of SKAI in Antioch, Manolis Kostidis it conveys the desperation and pain of people who continue to search for their own people under the rubble but also those who saw their homes and a lifetime’s labors crumble in a matter of seconds and now live in tents.
Those who managed to get out alive have set up tents in the streets and are trying to get on with their lives as best they can while rescue teams continue to search for people under the rubble.
“We are very grateful to the Greeks for helping us in these natural disasters,” says one of the volunteers. A newly built complex of 280 houses in Antioch, with apartments for sale for 150,000 and 200,000 euros could not withstand the 7.8 Richter and collapsed with the result that at least 1,200 people remain buried.
At the same time, in the Greek Orthodox village of Tokatsli in Antioch, where 200 Greek Orthodox live, the residents have set up dozens of tents and are trying to keep warm with improvised stoves.
“Unfortunately, things are not good in Antiochia, that’s why we came here to be together” says a resident.
Yesterday, the Greek couple wanted in Antioch was also found dead. Turkish rescuers searching through the wreckage of the apartment building where the Greek couple were located initially found the man’s body under tons of rubble. A little later, the body of the unfortunate woman was also found.
However, rescuers are not stopping efforts as they continue to find more survivors under the rubble. At least nine children were pulled alive today in Turkey and Syria, while in Syria three people were pulled alive from the ruins of a building in the city of Jable 110 hours after the strong earthquake of 7.8 degrees.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
