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EARTHQUAKE

Govt ready to provide more assistance to Turkiye: Ishaq Dar

by
Ishaq Dar
  • Finance Minister Ishaq Dar met Turkish Ambassador during a meeting.
  • Maximum facilities would be provided to the Turkish investor.
  • Turkish Ambassador expressed gratitude.

Islamabad – Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has announced that the government is prepared to offer additional aid to Turkey.

The discussion came during a meeting between Turkish Ambassador Dr. Mehmet Paçacı and Dar, where topics such as economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two nations were discussed.

The Turkish Ambassador took the opportunity to express his concerns about the obstacles faced by Turkish firms that operate in Pakistan.

The Finance Minister ensured the Ambassador that maximum facilities would be provided to Turkish investors, adding that the people of Pakistan empathize with the Turkish people in the wake of the recent earthquake.

Dar further declared that the Pakistani government is ready to offer more assistance as Turkey has strong bilateral relations with Pakistan.

In response, expressing deep gratitude, the Turkish ambassador thanked Pakistan for providing immediate aid in difficult times.

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A magnitude 6.1 earthquake rattled Japan’s Hokkaido, no tsunami warning issued

by
Earthquake Central America

Japan Meteorological Agency reported a magnitude 6.1 earthquake. The quake depth was roughly 43 kilometers. The country has tight construction laws in place to ensure that structures can withstand strong earthquakes. The US Geological Survey and the Japan Meteorological Agency reported a magnitude 6.1 earthquake off the coast of Hokkaido in northern Japan on Saturday … Read more

Turkey broadens its probe into building collapses as quake toll approaches 50,000

by
Turkey
  • 84 people accused of being responsible for the collapse of structures have been arrested.
  • The cumulative number of dead in Turkey and bordering Syria is more than 50,000.
  • The mayor of the Nurdagi district in the province of Gaziantep was also arrested.

A minister said on Saturday that Turkey has arrested 184 people accused of being responsible for the collapse of structures in this month’s earthquakes, and that investigations are expanding as anger grows over what many regards as fraudulent building practices.

The death toll from the earthquakes, the most intense of which struck in the middle of the night on February 6, increased to 44,128 in Turkey overnight. That took the cumulative number of dead in Turkey and bordering Syria to more than 50,000.

The disaster, Turkey’s biggest in modern history, destroyed or badly damaged about 160,000 buildings and 520,000 units.

During a news conference in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, which was one of ten provinces affected by the disaster, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag revealed that more than 600 persons had been probed in connection with collapsed structures.

According to him, those formally detained and held in custody include 79 construction contractors, 74 people with legal responsibility for buildings, 13 property owners, and 18 people who had made improvements to properties.

Many Turks are outraged by what they perceive to be fraudulent building methods and defective urban development.

President Tayyip Erdogan, who faces the most serious electoral challenge of his two-decade rule in the June elections, has promised accountability.

Haber and other media, the mayor of the Nurdagi district in the province of Gaziantep, who is a member of Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, was among those arrested as part of the investigations into collapsed structures.

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Death toll in Turkey and Syria has surpassed 50,000

by
Turkey and Syria
  • The earthquakes killed 44,218 people in Turkey.
  • While the latest confirmed death toll in Syria was 5,914.
  • The first earthquake struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6.

The number of people killed by the earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria earlier this month has now passed 50,000, according to the latest figures from both countries.

The earthquakes killed 44,218 people in Turkey alone, according to the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), while the latest confirmed death toll in Syria was 5,914.

The first earthquake, which struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6, had a magnitude of 7.7, while a second, which occurred a few days later, had a magnitude of 7.6. According to the AFAD, the region has been pounded by almost 9,000 aftershocks since.

Almost 240,000 rescue workers, including volunteers, are still working in Turkey’s 11 earthquake-affected provinces. Some of the quake-affected areas were originally impossible to access, but recovery efforts are ongoing, and casualty numbers are climbing as time goes on.

In recent days, there has been no news of survivors being rescued.

In Turkey alone, about 530,000 people have been evacuated from the disaster region, and the Turkish government has reported that 173,000 buildings have collapsed or been seriously damaged, with more than 1.9 million people seeking refuge in temporary shelters, hotels, and public facilities.

The quake has affected around 20 million people in Turkey, while the United Nations estimates 8.8 million people in Syria. Little information has emerged from Syria, where many people had already been living in precarious conditions as a result of years of civil war.

Many survivors have fled the affected areas of southern Turkey or have taken refuge in tents, container homes, and other government-sponsored shelters.

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Turkish journalists arrested over earthquake reports

by
Turkish
  • Mir Ali Koçer publicized survivor and rescuer stories on Twitter.
  • He is now being investigated for creating “false news” and could face up to three years in prison.
  • He is one of at least four journalists being probed for reporting or commenting on the earthquake.

Mir Ali Koçer, a freelance journalist, was 200 miles from the epicenter when Turkey was struck by a catastrophic earthquake on February 6. He drove down to the impacted area with his camera and microphone in hand to interview survivors.

He publicized survivor and rescuer stories on Twitter and is now being investigated for creating “false news” and could face up to three years in prison.

He is one of at least four journalists being probed for reporting or commenting on the earthquake.

Hundreds more, according to press freedom organizations, have been arrested, harassed, or prohibited from reporting.

Earthquakes in both Turkey and Syria killed at least 50,000 people.

The Turkish authorities have made no statement on the detentions.

I couldn’t hold back my tears

Mr. Koçer, who is Kurdish and contributes to pro-opposition news sites such as Bianet and Duvar, was smoking on his balcony in the south-eastern city of Diyarbakir on the night of the earthquake when his two dogs began barking.

He recalls them barking exactly like that in 2020, seconds before a minor earthquake shook eastern Turkey.

“I felt I was shaking. I felt the house shaking, I felt the TV shaking,” says Mr. Koçer. He hid under a dinner table with the dogs and then rushed outside.

Mr. Koçer left Diyarbakir and drove to the city of Gaziantep. He was shocked by scenes of destruction and victims enduring freezing temperatures in towns near the very epicenter of the quake.

At least 3,000 of the earthquake’s victims died in Gaziantep.

“When holding the microphone, behind the camera, or in front of the camera, I could not hold back my tears,” Mr. Koçer recalls.

Provocateurs

The surge of volunteers and rescue teams from Western Turkey moved Mr. Koçer, and he shared their stories on Twitter. Several of the survivors told him they had gone days without receiving assistance. Similar allegations were made by pro-opposition news outlets.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told people in earthquake-affected areas that he would reconstruct their cities. But he also warned that individuals propagating “fake news” and “causing social disorder” would be jailed, labeling them “provocateurs”.

Mr. Koçer claims that while he was reporting from the earthquake-affected zone, Diyarbakir police placed a message at his residence telling him to go to the police station and make a statement.

He was informed at the station that he was being probed under a freshly enacted misinformation statute. He claimed that the police questioned him about his reporting from the epicenter of the earthquake and accused him of spreading fake information.

Turkey’s new law went into effect in October. It criminalized public deception and allowed the state considerably broader control over news outlets and social media.

The Venice Commission, the Council of Europe’s legal watchdog, warned the bill would limit freedom of expression.

It is referred to as a “censorship law” by opposition parties.

‘They don’t like criticism’

Mr. Koçer says that he was diligent in his job, interviewing everyone from survivors to police, gendarmes, and rescue workers. “I did not release anything without first conducting extensive research and analysis,” he says.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the probe into Mr. Koçer as “absurd” and demanded authorities discontinue it.

At least three more journalists are facing criminal accusations, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an advocacy group.

Merdan Yanarda and Enver Aysever are well-known political analysts in Istanbul with substantial social media followings. Both have criticized the government’s efforts to save the country. Both are being investigated, as is Mehmet Güleş, who, like Mr Koçer, is located in Diyarbakir. He was arrested on accusations of “inciting hatred” after questioning a volunteer who was critical of him.

It is unknown how many additional journalists are being investigated. The police stated on Tuesday that they detained 134 people for “provocative posts” and arrested 25 of them, although their identities were not released. Some of those jailed may have been spreading lies, such as the one that Afghan migrants were scavenging in devastated neighborhoods.

But, critics claim that the crackdown has gone well beyond those propagating dangerous misinformation.

“The government is trying to suppress information coming from the quake zone,” says cyber rights expert Yaman Akdeniz who teaches at the Istanbul Bilgi University.

The arrests came after Turkey’s presidential communications director warned against “lethal disinformation” jeopardizing the rescue efforts. The directorate also rolled out a smartphone app called “Disinformation Reporting Service” encouraging people to report manipulative posts about the quake.

“Any time [Turkish] officials and the government are being criticized, they don’t like it,” says Arzu Geybulla, a journalist in Istanbul covering digital authoritarianism and censorship.

“But this time they are perhaps more vocal.”

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7.2 magnitude earthquake strikes Tajikistan, near border with China

by
earthquake
  • An earthquake of roughly 7.2 magnitudes struck Tajikistan.
  • The earthquake depth was 10 km (6 miles).
  • The epicenter is roughly 82 kilometers from the nearest Chinese border.

An earthquake of roughly 7.2 magnitudes struck Tajikistan on Thursday at 8:37 a.m. (0037 GMT) at a depth of 10 km (6 miles), according to Chinese official television CCTV, citing the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The epicenter is roughly 82 kilometers from the nearest Chinese border and was felt powerfully in certain places of China’s western Xinjiang region, including Kashgar and Artux, according to CCTV.

Kashgar’s power supply and connectivity were normal.

According to Chinese official media, the Xinjiang railroad agency has halted passenger trains traveling on the Aksu-Kashgar stretch of the Southern Xinjiang railway.

According to CCTV, local authorities were evaluating bridges, tunnels, and signal systems.

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Turkey guy meets his family after 11 days, video will makes you cry

by
Turkey
  • A video of a man in Turkey who was rescued from the rubble has gone viral.
  • It took 11 days before the man was saved.
  • 5.5 million people have watched the video.

Devastating earthquakes and their aftershocks shook Turkey and Syria, killing many people. Even though Saturday marked the 12th day in a row that rescue efforts were ongoing, the number of fatalities from the earthquakes surpassed 46,000. People were pulled from the rubble, offering some optimism, though. Just like Mustafa Avci, a 34-year-old man. One such story that will just make you gasp is about his miraculous rescue.

Avci’s happiness at becoming a father for the first time was short-lived, according to a DailyMail article, since the earthquake destroyed the private Academy Hospital in Antakya just hours after his wife gave birth to a baby girl. Fortunately, Avci’s wife Bilge and daughter were recovered without incident, but Avci was missing.

Finally, after 11 days of waiting, he was extricated from the wreckage. Avci can be seen talking to his family in a video that has gone viral.

Look at this:

“I didn’t think I’d ever be discovered again… I never anticipated coming out. I believed my wife and kids were no longer alive. Now, I am very joyful. I experience a rebirth-like sensation. According to the DailyMail story, Mustafa claimed, “I simply experience a little ache.

In the video, Avci is heard saying, “May God bless you a thousand times, brother,” while kissing the rescuer’s hand that is holding the phone in appreciation. May God constantly provide for your needs,” the report concluded.

Twitter users couldn’t stop expressing their affection for Avci’s family. The fact that the family was reunited was acknowledged by many.

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Earthquake tremors felt in Islamabad

by
earthquake

Earthquake tremors felt in Islamabad The intensity was recorded at 5.3 The center of the quake was Southern Iran ISLAMABAD: Earthquake tremors were felt in Islamabad today and the intensity has been recorded at 5.3. According to the seismological center, the intensity of the earthquake has been recorded at 5.3 on the Richter scale, while … Read more

Earthquake in Turkey & Syria: Baby pulled from the rubble reunited with aunt and uncle

by
Syria

An aunt and uncle have adopted a newborn born. Hundreds of people had expressed interest in adopting the newborn. Her parents, four brothers, and an aunt died under the rubble. An aunt and uncle have adopted a newborn born amid the wreckage of a collapsed building in Syria, the only member of her immediate family … Read more

Turkey suspends earthquake relief efforts as Blinken vows additional US assistance

by
Blinken
  • Rescue efforts following last week’s deadly earthquake have stopped.
  • US Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered $100 million in new humanitarian relief.
  • The end of rescue operations came as Blinken traveled to Turkey.

Turkey said on Sunday that rescue efforts following last week’s deadly earthquake have stopped in all but two districts, as visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered $100 million in new humanitarian relief.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that slammed southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6 killed almost 44,000 people, with the likelihood of finding survivors two weeks out exceedingly remote.

Yunus Sezer, the chief of Turkey’s disaster service, said on Sunday that search and rescue efforts had been completed in all provinces except Hatay and Kahramanmaras, the epicenter of the earthquake.

Sezer stated that search and rescue efforts in the provinces continued on the 14th day, but that the number was likely to decrease by late Sunday.

The agency’s chief also said that Turkey’s death toll had increased to 40,689. The total death toll, including those killed in Syria, is currently 46,377.

Long-term effort

The end of rescue operations came as Blinken traveled to Turkey to express solidarity with a NATO ally and launch a new $100 million humanitarian package.

Washington’s top diplomat met with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, at the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey, where the US has transported help.

Blinken then accompanied Cavusoglu in a helicopter to inspect the disaster’s devastation in Hatay province.

The new aid “will be moving soon. Sadly, it’s less about search and rescue but long-term recovery,” Blinken told reporters.

“This is going to be a long-term effort. It’s going to take a massive effort to rebuild but we’re committed to supporting that effort,” he said.

Washington had now contributed $185 million in assistance to Turkey and Syria, he added.

The trip had been planned before the earthquake, the worst natural disaster to hit Turkey in its post-Ottoman history.

We still have hope

Three dead were recovered from one building in the damaged southeastern city of Antakya, with a woman still believed to be inside, an official briefed on the rescue work told sources on condition of anonymity.

The scent of decaying carcasses and a cloud of dust hovered in the air at the recovery site in the city’s northwest, just off Republic Avenue.

An excavator sorted through the rubble in front of the four-story apartment building, the front of which had been ripped off by the earthquake.

Husseyin Yavuz told sources in Antakya that he had been looking for his cousin’s body under the wreckage for days and that the search should continue.

“We’ve been here since the day of the earthquake. With God’s help, we still have hope,” he said.

Adile Dilmet, sitting next to Yavuz, was on the point of tears as she remembered waiting outside in the cold for more than a week as the authorities barred residents from entering their homes.

However, she told sources that families were also urged to evacuate their homes before the structures were demolished, and she demanded that the dead be recovered first.

“We’re suffering here… What are we going to do?”

Rocky relations

Blinken’s itinerary for his first travel to Turkey since taking office in 2021 includes meetings with authorities managing the delivery of American help and a tour of the Hatay humanitarian operation.

Relations between the United States and Turkey have been tense in recent years, but Washington has considered Ankara as useful in its role as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine since Moscow’s invasion last year.

Blinken will meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Monday, with two concerns expected to be on the table.

Turkey wishes to purchase F-16 fighter fighters, but the transaction is being stymied in the US Congress due to worries over Turkey’s human rights record and threats to neighboring Greece.

Blinken will also likely bring up Turkey’s refusal to ratify Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership applications.

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Turkey Earthquake, a father and daughter are reunited after days of searching

by
Turkey
  • They were stuck together when their house collapsed during the earthquake.
  • His wife and son did not survive the ordeal.
  • She was placed in the custody of social services when he was admitted to the hospital.

Adana: Screams first… then piercing cries… The phrase “father, father” is then repeated several times.

Gada Ayyan, 4, and her father, Ahmet Ayyan, are being reunited after being buried in the wreckage of their former home in southern Turkey.

They were stuck together when their house collapsed during the earthquake that killed almost 46,000 people. When Gada was rescued and transferred to the hospital, the two endured an agonizing few days apart.

“When it first started shaking I grabbed my daughter and my whole family began to run out,” Ahmet said. “The building collapsed on top of us all.”

His wife and son did not survive the ordeal. While he was stuck, Ahmet could hear his son’s crying. He was accompanied by his daughter. She was resting on his leg, and they were both locked, unable to escape.

The rubble reached up to his neck. On the fourth day under the rubble, he expressed despair. He was in a lot of agonies. His foot was severely injured. His daughter, on the other hand, would not let him give up hope of being saved.

“My daughter was telling me over and over papa don’t cry. Relax. They are coming to rescue us,” said Ahmet.

She directed his gaze to the light spilling through. And, lo and behold, they heard voices. They were about to be saved.

Gada was the first to be dragged out, scarcely scratched. They dug Ahmet out after about a half hour. Nonetheless, she was placed in the custody of social services when he was admitted to the hospital.

When he lost sight of his daughter, he knew if it was the last thing he ever did, he’d see her again.

He posted her picture on Facebook and Instagram, appealing seeking anyone who could help him find her. A relative eventually discovered that social services had a healthy little girl with no parents.

“She kept me alive.” He said of her constant encouragement for days under the rubble. “That is my little girl. She is my hero. She’s my hero”

They will have to deal with the loss of Gada’s mother and 7-year-old brother, but Ahmet and his daughter have each other to love and care for and that is enough he said.

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Oman experiences 4.1-magnitude earthquake at Duqm

by
earthquake
  • The 4.1-magnitude tremor struck Duqm.
  • There were no reports of injuries or damage to property.
  • The alert level in Muscat and the rest of the Sultanate is now zero.

 Muscat: Several citizens in Oman reported experiencing minor earthquake tremors on Sunday. However, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) confirmed that there were no reports of injuries or damage to property.

The 4.1-magnitude tremor struck Duqm at 7:55 a.m. on Sunday, according to the Earthquake Monitoring Centre (EMC) at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU).

While the alert level in Muscat and the rest of the Sultanate is now zero, the EMC warned that the direct impact of the earthquake will vary based on the kind, height, and nature of the buildings in the area.

Earthquakes are not unusual in Oman, according to experts, because the country is located in a seismically active zone. Oman’s government and other organizations have put in place mechanisms to monitor seismic activity and keep inhabitants informed of any potential dangers.

Dr. Issa Al Hussein, Director of the Earthquake Monitoring Centre (EMC), told Oman’s General Radio last week that the EMC has 21 stations equipped with cutting-edge equipment to monitor earthquakes and estimate their position, strength, and magnitude.

Because the Sultanate of Oman is part of the Arabian Plate in a convergence zone between the Arabian and Eurasian plates, seismic activity appears to be dynamic every now and then.

“We are in the process of setting up a monitoring station for the strong network that will be disseminated across cities and urban areas in the coming months. It is in the process of preparation and processing”, he stated.

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Turkey is outraged over substandard construction as ‘earthquake-proof’ homes collapse

by
Turkey
  • Residents believed their homes would be safe in a quake.
  • Government promises to investigate why buildings collapsed.
  • Sector officials say 50% of buildings contravene regulations.

Tenants of a luxury housing complex in southern Turkey believed their flats were ‘earthquake-proof’ until the edifice collapsed like a domino in last week’s terrible earthquake, killing hundreds.

The wreckage of the Ronesans Rezidans, which was billed as “a piece of paradise” when it first opened a decade ago, has now become a source of public outrage.

Survivors wait for word of loved ones by the mound of debris that was the 249-apartment block, as their hopes of survival wane.

“My brother lived here for ten years… It was said to be earthquake safe, but you can see the result,” said 47-year-old jeweller Hamza Alpaslan.

“It was introduced as the most beautiful residence in the world. It’s in horrible condition. There is neither cement nor proper iron in it. It’s a real hell,” he added.

Eleven days after the earthquake that killed over 43,000 people in Turkey and Syria and displaced millions, Turkish indignation is increasing over what they regard as unethical construction methods and severely faulty urban plans.

According to Turkey’s Urbanization Ministry, 84,700 buildings have collapsed or have been seriously damaged.

While the Ronesans Rezidans, or “Renaissance Residence,” had collapsed, numerous older buildings on the street remained standing.

“We rented this place as an elite place, a safe place,” said Sevil Karaabduloglu, whose two daughters are under the rubble.

Missing Ghanaian international footballer Christian Atsu who played for local team Hatayspor is also believed to have lived in the complex.

ERDOGAN’S CONSTRUCTION BOOM

Turkey has committed to investigating the building collapse and has so far interviewed 246 people, including 27 developers, 27 of whom are being detained by police.

“No rubble is cleared without collecting evidence,” said Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag.

“Everyone who had a responsibility in constructing, inspecting, and using the buildings is being evaluated.”

The ruling AK Party of President Tayyip Erdogan has placed a high value on building, which has helped drive growth throughout its two decades in office, though the industry has suffered in the last five years as the economy has faltered.

Opposition parties accused his government of failing to enforce building laws and of misusing special levies levied after the last large earthquake in 1999 to make structures more earthquake resistant.

Turkey fell 47 places in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index to 101 in the ten years to 2022, from 54 out of 174 nations in 2012.

Erdogan argues the opposition lies in order to discredit the administration and stymie investment.

A damaged governmental building connected to Turkey’s Urbanisation Ministry lies three kilometers distant from the Renaissance Residence, and locals and activists claim critical records relating to building safety and quality control are scattered amid the wreckage.

Omer Mese, an Istanbul lawyer, said he has been keeping an eye on the ruins and is attempting to salvage what could be essential evidence, despite the fact that some documents have been destroyed as individuals left homeless hunt for anything they can burn for warmth.

“There were a lot of official documents with original signatures. It was essential to save and protect them… so that those responsible for this disaster can be brought to justice,” he said, adding the papers included data on concrete and earthquake resistance tests.

“I read the news about contractors arrested after the earthquake but when we think about this destruction and its extent… there should be more,” he added.

The Urbanisation Ministry said documents would be moved to the ministry archive in the city and were stored digitally.

BUILDING AMNESTY

According to industry officials, over half of Turkey’s total 20 million buildings violate construction rules.

The government implemented a zoning amnesty in 2018 to legalise unregistered construction projects, which engineers and architects warned may jeopardise lives.

Over 10 million people petitioned for amnesty, with 1.8 million petitions accepted. Property owners had to pay to register their structures, which were subsequently subject to a variety of taxes and levies.

The administration stated that it was necessary to eliminate conflicts between the state and residents and to legalise constructions.

“Unfortunately the zoning amnesty in our country is somehow

considered a public blessing,” Mese said.

“We have become a society that lives by considering it a plus to put something off for a day, but we end up being crushed by the consequences of that. That is the problem.”

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Turkey discovers a fresh survivor roughly 12 days after the earthquake

by
Turkey
  • Turkish rescuers retrieved a 45-year-old man from the rubble on Friday
  • Rescuers were shown on social media cautiously dragging a stretcher.
  • He was quickly loaded into an ambulance and driven away.

Turkey: Turkish rescuers retrieved a 45-year-old man from the rubble on Friday, some 12 days after a massive earthquake killed tens of thousands.

Despite being trapped under the wreckage for so long in frigid conditions, teams have been finding survivors all week, though their numbers have plummeted to just a handful in recent days.

Hakan Yasinoglu, the guy, was rescued 278 hours after the 7.8-magnitude tremor struck Hatay, a southern province near the Syrian border.

Rescuers were shown on social media cautiously dragging a stretcher containing the victim through the wreckage of a destroyed structure.

To avoid a fall, he was fastened to the stretcher and wrapped in a golden thermal jacket.

He was quickly loaded into an ambulance and driven away.

His face was obscured, and unlike earlier late-night rescues, where teams rejoiced or clapped, the attitude on the ground appeared solemn.

Three more individuals, including a 14-year-old kid, were rescued late Thursday and early Friday, with the search at certain locations ongoing around the clock.

On Friday, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay indicated that rescue efforts in the region were still ongoing at less than 200 locations.

The earthquake killed around 41,000 people in Turkey and Syria, injured tens of thousands more, and left millions homeless in cold temperatures.

The earthquake hit 11 provinces in Turkey. Rescue activities in three provinces, Adana, Kilis, and Sanliurfa, have been finished, according to Turkish officials.

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Pakistan to extend support to Turkiye in post-quake relief efforts: PM

by
Shehbaz Sharif

PM Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan would continue to provide assistance to the Turkiye The prime minister handed over relief goods to Turkish officials He is on a visit as a special gesture of solidarity with the Turkish nation ANKARA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said Pakistan would continue to provide maximum assistance to Turkiye … Read more

Death toll rises above 41,000 in Turkey, Syria earthquake

by
Turkey Syria earthquake

The death toll from Turkey and Syria earthquake rose to 41,000. A 17-year-old girl was rescued from rubble 11 days after the earthquake. This quake is marked the deadliest disaster. About 41,000 people have died as a result of a devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Friday, and chances of finding survivors are … Read more

Shehbaz condoles with Erdogan over loss of lives in quake

by
PM Shehbaz meets Erdogan

ANKARA: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkiye here on Thursday and expressed his heartfelt condolences over the loss of precious human lives in the wake of massive earthquake. The Prime Minister, who was in Turkiye on a two-day visit to express solidarity with the Turkish people, was received upon … Read more

Three women and two children have been rescued from the wreckage in Turkey, aid arrived in Syria

by
Turkey

Turkey says it will demolish and swiftly rebuild. Diseases are a new threat as Turkey faces a post-quake water shortage. Relief efforts are hampered in Syria, and some aid comes through. Turkey: Two women were pulled from the rubble in Turkey’s southern city of Kahramanmaras and a mother and two children were rescued from the … Read more

PM Shehbaz Sharif leaves for quake-hit Turkiye

by
Shehbaz Sharif

PM Shehbaz Sharif leaving for quake-hit Turkiye today Prime Minister will meet the President of Turkey Prime Minister will also visit the earthquake-affected areas ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif is to leave for a two-day visit to the earthquake-hit Turkiye today and will inspect the relief operations in the country. According to the details, … Read more

Earthquake in Turkey Live updates: New magnitude 6.4 earthquake rocks Turkiye’s Hatay province

by
Earthquake in Turkey Live updates

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake has struck southern Turkey. just weeks after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed over 44,000 people. It is unknown how much damage it has caused or whether any casualties have occurred. A 6.4 magnitude earthquake has struck southern Turkey, just weeks after a deadly quake wreaked havoc on the region. The tremor occurred at … Read more

Earthquake caused deep gap in middle of Turkish olive grove

by
Earthquake
  • Last Monday’s magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Syria and Turkey.
  • Killed tens of thousands of people and wrecked entire city blocks.
  • Last Monday’s earthquake was the deadliest in 25 years.

During last week’s terrible earthquake in Turkey, a valley 984 feet long (300 meters) split a lush olive grove.

Turkey’s southeast Altınozu area, which borders Syria, has captured remarkable footage of the split olive grove’s jagged, sandy-colored canyon. Over 130 feet of cleavage (40 meters).

Last Monday’s magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Syria and Turkey killed tens of thousands of people and wrecked entire city blocks.

Demioren News Agency quoted area resident Irfan Aksu as saying the earthquake made “an unbelievable sound” last Monday.

“We woke up to a battlefield,” he continued.

He requested expert inspection for future damage. “This is not a little town—there are 1000 houses and 7000 thousand people,” he remarked. We’re afraid… It would have happened in the centre of our town if it was closer.”

Last Monday’s earthquake was the largest since an 8.1 magnitude quake hit a region near the South Sandwich Islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean in 2021, but it caused minimal damage due to its distant position.

Turkey, located on tectonic plate borders, experiences powerful earthquakes. Last Monday’s earthquake was the deadliest in 25 years.

Several causes made this earthquake deadly. Time of day is one. The early morning tremor locked several people in their houses.

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6.1 magnitude earthquake hits north west of New Zealand

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Earthquake
  • 6.1 earthquake struck northwestern Wellington, New Zealand.
  • 50 km northwest of Paraparaumu, 57 km deep, with no tsunami warning or damage reported.
  • It occurred as the North Island recovers from a devastating typhoon.

Magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck northwestern Wellington, New Zealand. The quake was moderately shallow at 57.4 kilometres, according to preliminary data. The 76km-deep earthquake hit at 7.38 pm. 50km north-west of Paraparaumu.

GeoNet received around 31000 earthquake reports in 15 minutes.

“Big shake! The North Island felt a magnitude 6.0 earthquake 50 km north-west of Paraparaumu, 57 km deep “New Zealand Civil Defence.

No tsunami warning or damage was reported.

Residents said the earth shook for 10–20 seconds, like a convoy of enormous trucks.

The tremor occurred as the North Island recovers from a devastating typhoon that killed four people and caused widespread damage.

“It is already a tremendously difficult time for individuals — care after yourself and those around you,” stated the civil defence agency.

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Pakistan Army teams continue rescue operations in Turkey

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Pakistan Army
  • Rescue operation is underway in the city of Adiyaman.
  • Search operation was conducted at 11 more places.
  • A total 88 search operations have been conducted.

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Army teams have continued rescue and relief activities in earthquake-hit areas of Turkey and Syria.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations(ISPR), the rescue operation of the Pakistan Army is underway in the city of Adiyaman in Turkey.

ISPR said that a search operation was conducted at 11 more places by the Pakistan Army team, during which 10 more bodies were found and handed over to the hires.

ISPR said that a total of 88 search operations including 37 rescue activities have been conducted.

ISPR said that the aid and rescue teams of the Pakistan Army have rescued eight people alive and recovered 134 dead bodies so far. The dead bodies were handed over to their relatives.

According to ISPR, 18 tonnes of relief goods including winter tents, four tonnes of medicines, shrouds, warm clothes, sleeping bags, and jackets have been sent by PIA flight for Syria.

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Syria will open two more border crossings for assistance distribution, says UN

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Syria
  • Syria’s government has agreed to open two more border crossings.
  • More than a million people have been displaced in Turkey, and the number in Syria could be far higher.
  • It stated that the borders into  Syria would be open for three months at first.

According to the UN, Syria’s government has agreed to open two more border crossings to let relief into the country devastated by last week’s terrible earthquakes.

“It’s going to make a big difference. We are now using just one crossing,” a spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the sources.

The earthquakes in neighboring Turkey are believed to have killed around 40,000 people in both nations.

Many Syrians have been outraged by the paucity of relief in their war-torn country.

President Bashar al-government Assad has blamed the problems in rescue efforts on the impact of Western sanctions put on the country.

However, international relief organizations argue the main barriers are the Assad government’s mismanagement and refusal to engage in all areas of the conflict.

The earthquakes on February 6th have now claimed the lives of almost 5,700 individuals in Syria.

In Turkey, the death toll has already surpassed 31,643 people.

More than a million people have been displaced in Turkey, and the number in Syria could be far higher, according to relief organizations.

Rescue crews in both nations are already scaling up operations in the huge area since the odds of finding any more survivors are dwindling.

UN announced the two new border crossings

Following high-level meetings with President Assad in Damascus on Monday, the UN announced the two new border crossings, in Bab al-Salam and Al Ra’ee on the border with Turkey.

It stated that the borders into  Syria would be open for three months at first.

Mr. Dujarric also defended the wait for Syria‘s consent to open the crossings.

“It is our knowledge that other assistance agencies not linked with the UN have been utilizing these border crossings. Because of the nature of the United Nations, we must work within specific boundaries.

President Assad has made no public remarks on the subject.

Some supplies arrived in government-controlled areas of Syria in the days following the earthquake, primarily from friendly countries like Russia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.

However, the devastated northwestern rebel-controlled portions of Syria remain blocked off.

This is due to the fact that international humanitarian supplies can only reach these areas via a single border from Turkey or through government-controlled portions of Syria.

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Pakistan dispatched medical, rescue teams to quake-hit Syria

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Pakistan Syria teams

Pakistan dispatched medical, rescue teams to Syria The teams were sent at the instructions of PM The PM also expressed regret over the loss of lives ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan has dispatched medical and rescue teams, including relief supplies, to the earthquake victims in Syria. Following the instructions of the prime minister, the National … Read more

EU envoy to Syria: ‘absolutely unfair’ to be accused of shirking earthquake aid

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EU
  • EU member countries have raised more than 50 million euros to give aid and support rescue missions.
  • EU was encouraging member states to provide help and that sanctions “do not impede the delivery of humanitarian aid.”
  • European Union’s envoy said it was unfair to criticise the group for failing to provide adequate assistance.

The European Union’s envoy to Syria said early Sunday that it was unfair to criticise the group for failing to provide adequate assistance to Syrians in the aftermath of last week’s earthquake that destroyed significant portions of Syria and Turkey.

According to Dan Stoenescu, the EU and its member countries have raised more than 50 million euros to give aid and support rescue missions and first aid in areas of Syria.

“It is absolutely unfair to be accused of not providing aid when actually we have constantly been doing exactly that for over a decade and we are doing so much more even during the earthquake crisis,” Stoenescu said in written comments.

More than 3,500 people were killed in Syria’s earthquake, where a 12-year conflict had already killed hundreds of thousands and prompted millions to flee within and beyond the country’s borders.

Even before Monday’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake, the country has been divided between multiple competing zones of control, making assistance provision problematic.

The Syrian government, which is sanctioned by the West, has asked for UN assistance but has stressed that any assistance must be coordinated with Damascus and supplied from within Syria, not across the Turkish border into opposition territories.

Some analysts have accused Damascus of targeting loyalist areas with supplies. On Sunday, Syrian authorities did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Sanctions do not impede the delivery of humanitarian aid

A 30-tonne convoy of humanitarian goods from Italy, comprising four ambulances and 13 pallets of medical equipment, arrived in Beirut on Saturday its route to Damascus, marking the first European earthquake relief shipment to Syria.

Stoenescu said the EU was encouraging member states to provide help and that sanctions “do not impede the delivery of humanitarian aid.”

But he said the EU had foreseen that humanitarian partners may request exemptions “for humanitarian purposes and is willing to clarify further these possibilities.”

“The more the sanctions narrative is perpetrated, the more honest actors that want to help are inhibited and afraid to get involved in the international humanitarian efforts,” he said.

The EU was seeking “sufficient safeguards” to ensure that help provided would reach vulnerable people, Stoenescu said, adding the Syrian government had a “record of aid diversion.”

“We call the authorities in Damascus not to politicize the humanitarian aid delivery, and to engage in good faith with all humanitarian partners and UN agencies to help people,” he said.

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Turkey-Syria quake deaths to top 50,000: UN relief chief

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UN
  • According to officials and medics, 24,617 persons were killed in Turkey.
  • 3,574 were killed in Syria.
  • The toll may double or more as it’s tough to determine for now.

According to UN humanitarian head Martin Griffiths, the death toll from a huge earthquake in Turkey and Syria may “double or more” from its present level of 28,000 people.

Griffiths landed in Turkey’s southern city of Kahramanmaras on Saturday, the epicenter of the first 7.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked millions of people in the early hours of Monday.

On Saturday, he said of the death toll, “I think it’s tough to determine precisely because we need to dig under the rubble, but I’m sure it’ll double or more.”

“We haven’t even begun to count the deceased,” he said.

According to officials and medics, 24,617 persons were killed in Turkey and 3,574 were killed in Syria. The confirmed total is currently 28,191.

Despite frigid weather that has exacerbated the anguish of millions now in desperate need of assistance, tens of thousands of rescue personnel are scouring destroyed neighborhoods.

According to the UN, at least 870,000 people in Turkey and Syria require hot meals right now. In Syria alone, up to 5.3 million people may have been displaced.

The earthquake has touched over 26 million people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which launched a quick appeal for $42.8 million on Saturday to address acute health needs.

According to Turkey’s disaster agency, around 32,000 personnel from Turkish organizations are working on search-and-rescue activities. In addition, there are 8,294 international rescuers.

“Soon, the search and rescue people will make way for the humanitarian agencies whose job it is to look after the extraordinary numbers of those affected for the next months,” Griffiths said in a video posted to Twitter.

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As rescue efforts diminish, the death toll from the Turkey-Syria earthquake has surpassed 28,000 people

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Pakistan Syria teams
  • The death toll from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria has topped 28,000.
  • German rescuers and the Austrian army suspended their search activities.
  • Mr. Erdogan has admitted shortcomings in the response.

Unrest in southern Turkey has hampered rescue attempts following Monday’s fatal earthquake, according to three rescue organizations.

The death toll from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria has topped 28,000, and despite some miracle rescues, hope for many more surviving is diminishing.

On Saturday, German rescuers and the Austrian army suspended their search activities, blaming conflicts between unknown factions.

One rescuer predicted that security would deteriorate when food supplies ran out.

According to local media, approximately 50 people have been arrested for looting, with numerous guns seized.

Turkey’s president has stated that he will utilize emergency powers to punish anyone who violates the law.

According to an Austrian army spokeswoman, skirmishes between unidentified parties in the Hatay province have forced hundreds of Austrian Forces Disaster Relief Unit personnel to seek refuge in a base camp with other international organizations.

The chances of saving a life are disproportionate

“In Turkey, there is increased aggression between factions,” stated Lieutenant Colonel Pierre Kugelweis in a statement. “The chances of saving a life are disproportionate to the safety risk.”

After Austria suspended its rescue efforts, the country’s defense minister announced that the Turkish army had stepped in to provide security, allowing the rescue operations to resume.

The German branch of the search and rescue organization ISAR, as well as the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (TSW) in Germany, have also ceased operations, citing security concerns.

“There are more and more reports of clashes between different factions, shots have also been fired,” said ISAR spokesperson Stefan Heine.

Isar’s operations manager, Steven Bayer, predicted that security would deteriorate as food, water, and hope became scarcer.

“We are watching the security situation very closely as it develops,” he said.

German rescue workers indicated they would continue operations as soon as Turkish authorities deemed the situation safe.

Fuat Oktay, Turkey’s Vice President, reported on Saturday that the death toll in Turkey had grown to 24,617.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

While Turkey‘s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has not commented on the reported violence in Hatay, he did emphasize on Saturday that the government would pursue those implicated in crimes in the province.

“We’ve declared a state of emergency,” Mr. Erdogan said during a visit to the disaster zone today. “It means that, from now on, the people who are involved in looting or kidnapping should know that the state’s firm hand is on their backs.”

According to sources, 48 persons were arrested for looting on Saturday, according to state media. According to Turkish state media, multiple firearms, as well as cash, jewelry, and bank cards, were seized.

“People were smashing the windows and gates of stores and automobiles,” a 26-year-old guy looking for a work colleague in a collapsed building in Antakya told sources.

Police in Turkey has also reportedly detained 12 persons in connection with fallen structures in the provinces of Gaziantep and Sanliurfa. According to the sources, they included contractors.

In Turkey, at least 6,000 buildings fell, prompting doubts about whether the large-scale catastrophe might have been averted and whether President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government should have done more to save lives.

With elections approaching, the president’s position is in jeopardy after 20 years in office and his calls for national unity going unheeded.

Mr. Erdogan has admitted shortcomings in the response, but he appeared to blame fate on a visit to one disaster zone: “Such things have always happened. It’s part of destiny’s plan.”

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