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Death toll from Syria-Turkey quake nears 10,000

31 Comments
By Mehmet Caliskan, Huseyin Hayatsever and Ece Toksabay

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Horrorific number of deaths in very poor regions with people without the means to survive without help. Aid from all the nations that can afford to give is urgently needed. Lack of gas for diggers, and ambulances. Lack of medical drugs, food, and water. Too much suffering

10 ( +10 / -0 )

earthquakes are the bane of my existence. They make everything seem pointless the way they just suddenly destroy everything in a second. Terrifying and awful.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

I cannot imagine the horror. R.I.P.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

This is truly heartbreaking.

My sympathies for the deceased. In the last 24 hours I have been thinking about those who are buried alive and are likely to succumb to their wounds, exposure or dehydration before they can be rescued and their families, powerless to do anything about it.

There but for the grace of God go I….

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Jim, it is on the top of the news at JT, and Japanese TV also extensively report on it (at least this morning news).

But rather than news, let's hope all the governments mobilize and rapidly send help.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

There is mass coverage of this tragic event on the MSM and I watched it this morning with some reporters already on the ground.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

The Red Crescent and White Helmets are already there to help immediately

Countries around the world as far as Sweden, US, Mexico, Canada, India, Japan, and even Israel are going to be there too

The US already sent manpower and food medicine aid from the nearby bases of Germany

Europe offering the same help to Assad, but also wants open corridor access to rebel-held areas affected by the earthquakes

5 ( +7 / -2 )

There’s not much news coverage about this not only in Japan but globally. Even BBC, CNN and Fox barely had coverage of a minute or less.

The BBC is covering this extensively.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

cenobite - earthquakes are the bane of my existence. They make everything seem pointless the way they just suddenly destroy everything in a second. Terrifying and awful.

Thats why I moved back to the only continent without active volcanoes and rarely has earthquakes.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@Numan, this is a quote from AL-Monitor today:

"Feb. 7: Israeli and Iranian aircrafts sit side by side at Turkey’s Gaziantep airport

A plane from the Israeli Sun D’Or charter company carrying an emergency relief team from the United Hatzalah aid organization landed Tuesday afternoon in Turkey and taxied into a parking slot right next to an Iranian plane that also brought humanitarian aid to the earthquake-stricken region. A Qatar air force plane parked on the other side of the Israeli aircraft, offering an unusual picture of Middle Eastern solidarity with Turkey."

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/02/earthquake-deaths-pass-11000-turkey-syria-anger-desperation-mount-live-updates

2 ( +2 / -0 )

What assistance has Japan given?

A disaster relief team left Japan for Turkiye Monday night.

https://www.inform.kz/en/japan-sends-disaster-relief-team-to-t-rkiye_a4032590

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@RichardPearce govts that use poison gas against their own people aren't democracies. They are terrorists. Assad is a terrorist. In Ghouta, Syria, Assad injured about 3000 people enough to need hospital care and another 1500 died. He used sarin gas. That was in 2013.

The UN investigation team confirmed "clear and convincing evidence" of the use of sarin delivered by surface-to-surface rockets, and a 2014 report by the UN Human Rights Council found that "significant quantities of sarin were used in a well-planned indiscriminate attack targeting civilian-inhabited areas, causing mass casualties.

Assad needed to be removed from office since that time.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

How awful!

RIP

1 ( +1 / -0 )

10,000 victims, tragic, and many more to come.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

10,000 and may more in less than 30 minutes, earthquakes can be the deadliest of all of what mother nature has to offer. Injured, Heartbroken, Hungry, Cold, homeless, and may be lost relatives is the worst any human face, even the toughest of us will crack under these conditions.

I pray for all the victims of this disaster, I pray for all the dead, my heart goes out to each and everyone of you, God Bless you all, hang in there help is on the way.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The Red Crescent and White Helmets are already there to help immediately

Countries around the world as far as Sweden, US, Mexico, Canada, India, Japan, and even Israel are going to be there too

The US already sent manpower and food medicine aid from the nearby bases of Germany

Europe offering the same help to Assad, but also wants open corridor access to rebel-held areas affected by the earthquakes

Have Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, or Saudi Arabia (AKA Turkiye's Allies) sent any assistance?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

earthquakes can be the deadliest of all of what mother nature has to offer

While true, a single tsunami killed 300K in Sumatra and Indonesia in 2004.

Have Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, or Saudi Arabia (AKA Turkiye's Allies) sent any assistance?

China is sending $6M - money. Perhaps they could transport their police in foreign countries to help?

Russia has 300 troops already in Syria helping and will expand into Turkey with rescue teams.

OTOH, the US will not help the Syrian govt, but will help Syrian people. In the USGovt mind, that is an important distinction.

I could see Iran, Iraq, or Saudi Arabia sending help through Red Crescent organizations.

Finland and Sweden are also sending aid and emergency houses https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/sweden-to-send-emergency-housing-and-humanitarian-aid-to-turkey-and-syria

Seems that Turkey has more good friends who are ignoring politics and helping humans in need.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Whilst I was eating my breakfast this morning, I was watching the pictures from Turkey, live on the BBC news, i knew that a few building had collapsed etc, but its not until they sent up a camera drone, the drone went up into the sky, and as it climbed into the sky, it revealed the true extent of the damage, a block of flats had collapse, then another, and another row after, every street had large amounts of damage, or the houses were totaly destroyed, then the drone rotated 360 degrees, the areal view was herendious, truly heart breaking.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What a lie! 

Russia's UN votes to restrict aid passing through Turkiye are public knowledge. Russia was about to veto the last UNSC vote on the subject but backed down at the last minute. Russian actions and UN votes are detailed in the links I provided.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Whilst I was eating my breakfast this morning, I was watching the pictures from Turkey, live on the BBC news, i knew that a few building had collapsed etc, but its not until they sent up a camera drone, the drone went up into the sky, and as it climbed into the sky, it revealed the true extent of the damage, a block of flats had collapse, then another, and another row after, every street had large amounts of damage, or the houses were totaly destroyed, then the drone rotated 360 degrees, the areal view was herendious, truly heart breaking.

A mostly preventable tragedy too. Loose building codes, even looser enforcement and government inaction. But Mr. Erdogan says it was "destiny". Amazing.

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/02/turkey-questions-about-countrys-preparedness-after-massive-earthquake

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Syria bans any UN NGO but there are few NGOs operating in Northern Syria.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

But. lo, the Sultan of Ankara, angered that there is criticism of the relief effort has shut down Twitter.

https://balkaninsight.com/2023/02/08/turkey-blocks-twitter-after-public-criticism-of-quake-response/

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Even before the earthquake simple medical supplies like insulin was difficult to get due to sanctions, now even aid is being hampered by sanctions.

The problem is not related to any sanction against the Syrian government. The problem has always been Russian opposition to the UN sending aid through Turkiye. Russia wants to control the flow of aid and divvy it up to their allies while starving their enemies. So far the UN has resisted this and authorized aid to enter northern Syria through Turkiye.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/08/us/politics/russia-syria-refugees-un.html

https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/07/07/un-security-council-restore-syria-cross-border-aid

https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/2022/06/27/Is-Russia-about-to-block-a-key-aid-route-into-northwest-Syria

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I just heard it's up to 13,000. So sad.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

As DT says, Turkiye needs stronger, earthquake proof building codes. Now is the time to begin again, so something like this doesn't happen again with such widespread destruction. It will cost a little more, but if put in at design time, the higher costs aren't THAT much when compared to 10K lives.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

More than 76.5 million people in Turkey are currently living below the poverty line, corresponding to more than 90% of the country's population, ...

https://www.duvarenglish.com/amidst-economic-crisis-90-percent-of-turkeys-population-live-below-poverty-line-report-shows-news-60626

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@NUMAN

Have Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, or Saudi Arabia (AKA Turkiye's Allies) sent any assistance?

It is hard to imagine a more tactless and vicious question. If this worries you so much, I inform you that on the first day of the tragedy, February 6, Erdogan thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for his “prompt and sincere response” to a series of earthquakes in the country. Russia immediately sent emergency planes to Turkey and Syria. But in Syria there is a contingent of Russian troops, which immediately began rescue work, without waiting for the planes of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. By the way, how is your country helping Syria? I didn't think I would have to ask this question.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The American claims that it illegally invaded Syria to fight terrorists runs headlong into the fact that the only place the terrorists hold any power is American occupied Syria. That the legitimate, democratically elected government of Syria wants aid to flow through the normal channels in order to ensure that the aid goes to the civilians suffering under the terrorist's rule, rather than to the terrorists is only a problem for the enemies of democracy and human rights.

That the US is willing to block ALL aid to the areas it controls to preserve that controls should offend everyone who thinks of themselves as being civilized.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Sadly very little releaf will reach Syria.

Even before the earthquake simple medical supplies like insulin was difficult to get due to sanctions, now even aid is being hampered by sanctions.

https://apnews.com/article/politics-syria-government-united-states-bashar-assad-e1bd001643fd8386e8ccb1fcd2a922f3

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

There’s not much news coverage about this not only in Japan but globally. Even BBC, CNN and Fox barely had coverage of a minute or less. It’s just sad that thousands of innocent people die in undeveloped countries and not much coverage is given, whereas if even a hundred people die in The US or Japan and the whole world will talk about it for many months! Speaks volume of how the media themselves segregate the value of human life between countries.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Have Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, or Saudi Arabia (AKA Turkiye's Allies) sent any assistance?

What assistance has Japan given?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

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