More than 45,000 people have been killed in the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, and the toll is expected to soar with some 264,000 apartments in Turkey destroyed and many still missing in the country's worst modern disaster.
The death toll in Turkey stands at 39,672, while neighbouring Syria has reported more than 5,800 deaths. Syria's toll has not changed for days. Mosques around the world performed absentee funeral prayers for the dead in Turkey and Syria, many of whom could not receive full burial rites given the enormity of the disaster.
While many international rescue teams have left the vast quake zone, domestic teams continued to search through flattened buildings today hoping to find more survivors who defied the odds. Experts say most rescues occur in the 24 hours following an earthquake. Hakan Yasinoglu, in his 40s, was rescued in the southern province of Hatay, 278 hours after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck in the dead of night on Feb. 6, the Istanbul Fire Brigade said. Earlier, Osman Halebiye, 14, and Mustafa Avci, 34, were saved in Turkey's historic city of Antakya, known in ancient times as Antioch. As Mr Avci was carried away, he was put on a video call with his parents, who showed him his newborn baby. "I had completely lost all hope. This is a true miracle. They gave me my son back. I saw the wreckage and I thought nobody could be saved alive from there," his father said. An exhausted Mr Avci was later reunited with his wife Bilge and daughter Almile at a hospital in Mersin. Aid organisations say the survivors will need help for months to come with so much crucial infrastructure destroyed. In neighbouring Syria, already shattered by more than a decade of civil war, the bulk of fatalities have been in the northwest, an area controlled by insurgents who are at war with President Bashar al-Assad - a conflict that has complicated efforts to aid people affected by the earthquake. The sides clashed overnight for the first time since the disaster, with government forces shelling the outskirts of Atareb, a rebel-held town badly hit by the earthquake, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported yesterday.Thousands of Syrians who had sought refuge in Turkey from their country's civil war have returned to their homes in the war zone - at least for now.For families still waiting to retrieve relatives in Turkey, there is growing anger over what they see as corrupt building practices and deeply flawed urban development that resulted in thousands of homes and businesses disintegrating."It was said to be earthquake-safe, but you can see the result," said Hamza Alpaslan, 47, whose brother had lived in the apartment block."It's in horrible condition. There is neither cement nor proper iron in it. It's a real hell." Turkey has promised to investigate anyone suspected of responsibility for the collapse of buildings and has ordered the detention of more than 100 suspects, including developers. The United Nations on Thursday appealed for more than $1 billion in funds for the Turkish relief operation, and has launched a $400 million appeal for Syrians.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Teen Rescued After 10 days Under Rubble Of Turkey Quake.A teenage girl has been pulled alive from the rubble in Turkey. The rescue comes more than 10 days after an earthquake that killed more than 42,000 people in the country and neighbouring Syria.
Read more »
Rescues wind down in Turkey after earthquake, giving way to grief and angerMillions in need of humanitarian aid as combined death toll in Turkey and Syria passes 42,000
Read more »
Govt sending €800k in emergency aid to Syria and TurkeyThe Irish Government is sending over €800,000 of emergency aid to Turkey and Syria, following the earthquake last week that devastated the region.
Read more »
Turkey-Syria earthquake: Aid focus turns to homeless and destituteDeath toll from earthquake surpasses 43,000, authorities yet to announce numbers still missing
Read more »
Aid focus turns to homeless after Turkey, Syria quakeInternational aid agencies are stepping up efforts to help millions of people, many sleeping in tents, mosques, schools or cars, 11 days after a massive earthquake hit Turkey and Syria killing more than 43,000.
Read more »
Two pulled from rubble in Turkey 11 days after quakeInternational aid agencies are stepping up efforts to help millions of people, many sleeping in tents, mosques, schools or cars, 11 days after a massive earthquake hit Turkey and Syria killing more than 43,000.
Read more »