Turkish President As Quake Deaths Top 16000

 "There Are Shortcomings": Turkish President As Quake Deaths Top 16,000

FEB 9 2023

Earthquake in Turkey:Relief efforts already been hampered by freezing temperatures due to the disasters vast scale which destroyed thousands of building ensnared an unknown number of people.

Antakya: As rescuers raced to save countless people who were still trapped under the rubble on Thursday freezing temperatures made the misery of those who survived a massive earthquake in Turkey and Syria that killed more than 16000 people even worse.

As rescuers efforts reach the 72 hours mark that disaster experts consider to be the most likely period to save lives the death toll from mondays 7.8 magnitude quake is expected to rise sharply.

After being criticized for his governments response to the earthquake which was one of the deadliest of this century Turkish President recep Tayyip Erdogan conceded short comings on wednesday.

The survivors have been left to scramble for food and a place to sleep and in some cases they have been forced to watch helplessly as their loved ones begged for help but then vanished beneath the rubble.

In Turkeys Hatay province kindergarten teacher semire coban described the situation as they are trapped under the ruins and there is no sign of life.

Hospitals had already been destroyed the economy had collapsed and there were electricity fuel and water stortages after a decade of civil war and Russian Syrian aerial bombardment.

Freezing temperatures

Early on Thursday temperatures in the Turkish city of Gaziantep dropped to minus five degrees celsius 23 degree fahrenheit but thousands of families were too afraid to return home and instead spent the night in cars or improvised tents.

 Because it was warmer than sitting in a tent parents carried their children in blankets along the city streets near the epicenter of mondays earthquake.

Some people have sought refuge with relatives or neighbors.Some people have left the area.However many have no place to go.

Schools gyms mosques and some stores are now open at night. However there are still few beds available and thousands people spend the night in cars with engines running to keep warm.

Melek Halici said as she and her two years old daughter watched recuers work into the night. when we sit down it is painful and i fear for anyone who is trapped under the rubble in this.

After receiving online criticism for the initial disaster response Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erodogan visited Kahramanmaras one of the hardest hit areas and acknowledged issues.

Naturally there are drawbacks.It is easy to see the conditions. He started on Wednesday. It is impossible to be prepared for disaster like this.

Racing Against The Clock

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake on Monday claimed the lives of 14351 people in Turkey and 3162 in Syria bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to 17513. Experts are concerned that the number will continue to sky rocket.

International Aid

The European Union is organizing a donor conference in March in Brussels garner international assistance for Syria and Turkey.

The conference according to the European Union would be held in conjunction with Turkish authorities to mobilize funds from the international community in support of the people of both countries.

After the massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey on Monday. close to the border with Syria the bloc quickly sent rescue workers there.

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