ADANA, Turkey (AP) – The latest on 7.8 magnitude earthquake It devastated parts of southeast Turkey and northern Syria early Monday.
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Medical aid organization Doctors Without Borders says a staff member has been found dead under the rubble of his home in Syria’s Idlib province after a powerful earthquake struck Syria and Turkey.
The group says other members of the organization have also lost families.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the impact of this disaster on thousands of people, including our allies and their families,” said Sebastian Gay, the group’s head of mission in Syria.
Gay said health facilities in northern Syria were overwhelmed with medical personnel working around the clock to relieve the huge number of wounded.
The earthquake-damaged region in Syria is split between government-held territory and the country’s last opposition-held enclave, which is surrounded by government forces and borders Turkey.
Gay said the needs are even greater in northwestern Syria, where the earthquake added a dramatic layer to vulnerable people who are still struggling after years of war. “The widespread consequences of this disaster will require an international aid effort,” he added.
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Major Developments:
The death toll is expected to rise after thousands of buildings collapsed in earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
– rescuers worked pull more survivors from the wreckage As cold, icy conditions shorten the time needed to save a life.
Earthquake wreaks new damage and suffering Syria’s last rebel-held enclave Years of fighting and bombing followed.
– Shipping to dozens of countries Experts and Support To aid in rescue efforts.
– what to know The Science Behind Powerful Earthquakes And the aftershocks that followed.
Christian Etsu is a football player presumed missing and stranded under the rubble.
– A look at some of the world deadliest earthquake since 2000.
– Find more AP coverage of the earthquake https://apnews.com/hub/earthquakes
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India and South Korea are among the countries sending rescue personnel and supplies following devastating earthquakes in Turkey and northern Syria.
India said it would send 100 members of its Natural Disaster Response Force, specially trained dog squads and equipment to Turkey. Medical teams with trained doctors, paramedics and essential medicines are also ready, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
South Korea will send a 60-person search and rescue team with medical supplies. It is also donating an initial $5 million to Turkey.
Announcing the plan on Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol described Turkey as a “brother nation” that sent troops to fight alongside South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War. Turkey lost over 700 of its soldiers in action.
South Korea’s Defense Ministry spokesman Jeon Ha Gyu said the ministry was arranging plans with relevant agencies to mobilize military aircraft to transport rescue personnel and aid supplies.
“It is a clear decision to help our brother nation Turkey to deal with this pain and hardship,” Yoon said during a cabinet meeting. “An incident involving such a large number of casualties is far more than a disaster of a certain nation and should be viewed as an international disaster, and the international society as a whole should shoulder its duty and responsibility.”
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War-ravaged Syria is calling on the United Nations and all member states to help with rescue efforts, health services, shelter and food aid following a massive earthquake that killed thousands in Syria and Turkey.
The earthquake-damaged region in Syria is split between government-held territory and the country’s last opposition-held enclave, which is surrounded by government forces and borders Turkey.
Syria’s UN ambassador, Bassam Sabbagh, told reporters that the UN secretary-general “has assured us that the UN will do everything possible to help Syria in this difficult situation.” Sabbagh said he had given Guterres a letter from the country’s foreign minister requesting help.
Sabbagh was asked whether Syria would agree to allow the UN to deliver aid from Turkey through other crossing points, if it was possible. He did not respond directly, but said the government was ready to distribute aid and assistance “to all Syrians in all areas of Syria”.
The rebel-held area is dependent on an influx of aid from nearby Turkey for everything from food to medical supplies.
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President Joe Biden called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday to offer condolences. The White House said in the statement that Biden underscored “the United States’ readiness to provide any and all necessary assistance” to its NATO ally Turkey.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the Biden administration is sending two, 79-person urban search and rescue teams to support Turkey’s efforts.
According to the White House, Biden and Erdogan discussed other assistance that might be needed by those affected by the earthquake, including health services or basic relief items.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared seven days of national mourning following Monday’s devastating earthquake. Turkish flags will fly at half-mast across the country and at its diplomatic missions abroad.
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said at least 1,651 people were killed and 11,119 injured in ten provinces. Hundreds more were reported killed in neighboring Syria.
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Roman Catholic authorities responsible for church properties in the Middle East are providing food and shelter to victims of Monday’s earthquake.
Rev. Francesco Patton, Patriarch of the Holy Land in Jerusalem, says he will open all church buildings in northern Syria to provide shelter for families who have lost their homes.
His office, Custodia Terrae Sancte, says the property could shelter hundreds of people and provide food and medical care for thousands more.
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Diplomats from the 193 member states of the United Nations stand in silence to pay tribute to the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
General Assembly President Sabah Korosi on Monday expressed “our deep sympathy and heartfelt condolences” to the government and people of both countries.
He then asked the diplomats to “pay tribute by observing a minute’s silence by standing in memory of those who lost their lives.” Korosi spoke at the start of a meeting to hear Secretary-General Antonio Guterres outline his priorities for 2023.
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Turkey’s Vice President Fuat Oktay said such a disaster could happen “once in a hundred years” and that his country should prepare for the death toll to rise.
Okte also said that about 145 aftershocks were recorded after the deadly earthquake overnight, three of which were over 6.0 in magnitude.
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Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Christerson said that the EU is “ready to offer our support” to Turkey as well. Sweden currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.
Yunus Sezer, president of Turkey’s Disaster Management Authority, says that so far more than 40 countries have offered to help.
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Turkey’s education minister said schools in the country’s 81 provinces will remain closed until February 13 following the deadly earthquake.
Schools were closed for a two-week vacation and were due to open on Monday but remained closed in some cities due to the blizzard.
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The UK is sending 76 search and rescue specialists with equipment and dogs as well as an emergency medical team to Turkey.
The UK government said teams, later on Monday, were bringing in equipment including seismic listening equipment, concrete cutting and breaking equipment, propping and shoring tools.
British ambassador-designate Jill Morris said that “the British Embassy in Ankara is in close contact with the Turkish authorities to understand how we can best support those on the ground.”
Britain also says it is in contact with the United Nations to get aid to victims in Syria.
Several other countries joined the expanded international relief effort, including the United Arab Emirates, which would set up a field hospital in Turkey, and Qatar, which was sending rescue teams and emergency supplies.
Romania, Spain and Poland joined the EU effort, sending rescuers, doctors, dogs and specialized equipment. While most international aid was intended for Turkey, Russia said it also planned to send aid directly to its close ally Syria.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Syrian President Bashar Assad in a phone call that Moscow would provide immediate assistance and send rescue workers to assist the quake-hit country. The Russian Defense Ministry said the Russian military has deployed 10 units numbering 300 people in Syria, which have begun clearing the rubble and searching for survivors. ,
Egypt and Liverpool football star mohammad salah Condolences have been expressed to Syrians and Turks after Monday’s devastating earthquake.
The striker wrote on Twitter, ‘Terrible news coming in from Syria and Turkey. My condolences to those killed and I wish them all a full recovery.”
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The World Health Organization says it is helping a massive international effort to support Turkey and Syria to deal with the devastating earthquake damage and is in contact with Turkish officials.
WHO Europe chief Hans Kluge said on Monday that the UN agency’s regional office in the eastern Mediterranean is helping international efforts to rapidly deliver medicine and relief equipment to earthquake-hit areas.
“Amidst the devastation caused by today’s earthquake in Syria, Turkey – a WHO Europe member state – and our deepest condolences to all affected communities,” Kluge wrote in a tweet.
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Japan’s foreign ministry says the country is sending a group of about 75 rescue workers to Turkey to help with search and rescue operations.
An advance team of 18 people, including officials from the ministry, police, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, the Japan Coast Guard and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, will leave on Monday to set up their operation.
The ministry said Japan is sending the team at the request of the Turkish government and as part of its emergency humanitarian support based on humanitarian considerations as well as Japan’s friendship with Turkey.
Separately, Swiss rescue dog service REDOG said it was preparing to send 22 rescuers with 14 dogs to the quake-hit region of Turkey.
The Associated Press