Turkish President Erdogan acknowledges ‘shortcomings’ in the government response
RH Desk
February 09, 2023
The death toll from the devastating earthquake that struck Turkiye and Syria on Monday has risen to more than 15,000 even as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday conceded “shortcomings” after criticism of his government’s response as far as relief and rescue is concerned.
At least 12,391 people have died in Turkey, according to officials, while at least 2,992 have been killed in Syria in one of the world’s deadliest earthquakes in more than a decade as hope dwindled that more survivors would emerge from the rubble of thousands of toppled buildings.
With the confirmed death toll crossing the 12,000 mark, President Erdogan visited the especially hard-hit Hatay province on Wednesday, where more than 3,300 people died and entire neighborhoods were destroyed. Residents there have criticized the government’s efforts, saying rescuers were slow to arrive.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Türkiye’s southern province of Kahramanmaras at 4:17 a.m. local time (0117 GMT) on Monday, followed by at least 78 aftershocks. The quakes were also felt in Lebanon, Israel, and Cyprus.
Rescuers have been combing through mountains of rubble in freezing and snowy conditions to find survivors.
Heartrending scenes of a newborn plucked alive from the rubble and a broken father clutching his dead daughter’s hand have laid bare the human cost of the earthquake. Moreover, scores of such rescue videos have gone viral on social media depicting the fragility of life as well as rare miracles.
Countries around the world are sending support to help the rescue efforts, including specialist teams, sniffer dogs, and equipment.
To chip in for the rescue operations, India mobilized Army medical team for quake-hit Türkiye. On Tuesday, India also sent a National Disaster Relief Force team, relief materials, and trained canines to help with the search and rescue operations in Türkiye.
Pakistan on Tuesday dispatched two rescue teams on board a special Pakistan Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying with it two rescue teams comprising of Urban Search and Rescue Team, which includes specialists, sniffer dogs, search equipment, and a medical team comprising army doctors, nursing staff and technicians.
Additionally, aid supplies including a 30-bed mobile hospital, tents, blankets, and other relief items have also been sent.
Heartrending scenes of a newborn plucked alive from the rubble and a broken father clutching his dead daughter’s hand have laid bare the human cost of the earthquake. Moreover, scores of such rescue videos have gone viral on social media depicting the fragility of life as well as rare miracles.
Countries around the world are sending support to help the rescue efforts, including specialist teams, sniffer dogs, and equipment.
To chip in for the rescue operations, India mobilized Army medical team for quake-hit Türkiye. On Tuesday, India also sent a National Disaster Relief Force team, relief materials, and trained canines to help with the search and rescue operations in Türkiye.
Pakistan on Tuesday dispatched two rescue teams on board a special Pakistan Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying with it two rescue teams comprising of Urban Search and Rescue Team, which includes specialists, sniffer dogs, search equipment, and a medical team comprising army doctors, nursing staff and technicians.
Additionally, aid supplies including a 30-bed mobile hospital, tents, blankets, and other relief items have also been sent.
