Death toll from Turkey, Syria quakes tops 19,000

The death toll from the catastrophic earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria rose to more than 19,000 on Thursday as more bodies were pulled from the rubble of collapsed homes in the stricken zone, Turkey’s disaster management agency said on Thursday. 

Turkish officials said 16,170 people had died in Turkey. Officials and medics said 3,162 have died in Syria, bringing the confirmed total to 19,332.

More than 63,000 people were injured in Turkey, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. There were no official reports on the number of injured in Syria.

Monday’s quake, followed hours later by a second one almost as powerful, toppled thousands of buildings including hospitals, schools and apartment blocks, leaving thousands of people homeless.

Erdogan has declared a state of emergency in 10 provinces. During a visit to heavily affected southern Hatay province, the Turkish president acknowledged “shortcomings” after criticism of his government’s response to the disaster.

More than 12,000 Turkish search and rescue personnel are working in the affected areas, along with 9,000 troops. More than 70 countries have offered rescue teams and other aid.
A first UN aid convoy crossed the border into rebel-held northwestern Syria on Thursday. The UN has released $25 million from its emergency fund to help kick-start the humanitarian response in Turkey and Syria.
AFP.com, 9 Feb, 2023