DEVELOPING | World Bank estimates Turkey earthquake damages at $34 billion

World Bank estimates Turkey earthquake damages at $34 billion

The devastating 6 February earthquake and aftershocks that hit southern Turkey have caused damages worth more than $34 billion in the country, the World Bank said on Monday.

The amount is equivalent to four percent of Turkey's GDP in 2021, the Washington-based institution said, adding that the estimate does not account for the costs of reconstruction that were "potentially twice as large," a statement said.

- AFP 

Turkey's Erdogan asks forgiveness for quake rescue delays

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday asked for forgiveness over rescue delays while visiting one of the areas hit hardest by the deadly earthquake earlier this month.

"Due to the devastating effect of the tremors and the bad weather, we were not able to work the way we wanted in Adiyaman for the first few days. I apologise for this," he said.

- AFP 

Turkey bans layoffs, offers salary support in earthquake zone

Turkey launched a temporary wage support scheme and banned layoffs in 10 cities on Wednesday to protect workers and businesses from the financial impact of the massive earthquakes that hit the south of the country earlier this month.

The moves are part of the Turkish government's steps to minimise the economic impact of Turkey's worst earthquake in modern history that left tens of thousands dead.

Employers whose workplaces were "heavily or moderately damaged" would benefit from support to partially cover wages of workers whose hours had been cut, the country's Official Gazette said on Wednesday.

A ban on layoffs was also introduced in 10 earthquake-hit provinces covered by a state of emergency. Turkish Parliament imposed the state of emergency for three months on February 7, after a request by President Tayyip Erdogan.

The government also offered salary support and imposed a layoff ban in 2020 in an attempt to mitigate the economic blow from Covid-19. Business groups and economists have said the earthquake could cost Ankara up to $100 billion to rebuild housing and infrastructure, and shave one to two percentage points off economic growth this year.

- Reuters 

WATCH | 6 dead after new earthquake hits Turkey-Syria border

- A 6.4 magnitude earthquake has struck the borders of Turkey and Syria killing six people.

- This comes two weeks after two larger earthquakes in the region left more than 47 000 people dead. 

- Officials say 294 people were injured in Monday's earthquake. 

New 6.4-magnitude quake hits southern Turkey

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake was recorded Monday in Turkey's southern province of Hatay, the hardest hit by a 6 February tremor which left more than 41,000 dead in the country, the disaster response agency AFAD said.

The quake hit the town of Defne at 20:04 and was strongly felt by AFP teams in Antakya and Adana, 200km to the north.

An AFP journalist reported scenes of panic, adding that the new tremors raised clouds of dust in the devastated town.

The walls of badly damaged buildings crumbled while several people, apparently injured, called for help.

- AFP

WATCH | 'It was a heartwarming mission': Rescue teams return from Turkey-Syria to hero's welcome

Humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers (GOTG) teams on a 10-day search-and-rescue mission to earthquake-ravaged Turkey and Syria, landed back in South Africa on Saturday morning – at the Cape Town International and OR Tambo International Airports respectively.

Rescue efforts in earthquake-hit Turkey were winding down on Sunday, nearly two weeks after the country's deadliest disaster in the modern era, with many praying only for bodies to mourn.

The head of Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), Yunus Sezer, said the search and rescue efforts would largely end on Sunday night.

More than 46,000 people were killed after the quake struck Turkey and Syria on February 6.

The toll is expected to climb, with some 345,000 apartments in Turkey now known to have been destroyed and many people still missing.

Neither Turkey nor Syria have said how many people are still unaccounted for following the quake.

- Reuters 

Earthquake death toll passes 45 000; many still missing in flattened apartments

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 as rescue workers listen for signs of life under rubble.

Twelve days after the quake hit, workers from Kyrgyzstan tried to save a Syrian family of five from the rubble of a building in Antakya city in southern Turkey.

Three people, including a child, were rescued alive. The mother and father survived but the child died later of dehyrdration, the rescue team said. One older sister and a twin did not make it.

Body of Ghana footballer Atsu found in Turkey quake rubble - report

The body of former Ghana international Christian Atsu has been found after a huge earthquake in Turkey, local media reported Saturday, quoting his manager.

Atsu, 31, was caught up in a 7.8-magnitude quake that rocked Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing more than 43 000 people in both countries.

Syrian family of seven dies in fire after surviving earthquake

Five Syrian children and their parents died on Friday in a fire that struck a Turkish home they moved to after surviving last week's earthquake, local media reported.

40 000 dead: 'Disaster of the Century' as thousands are still missing after Turkey and Syria's earthquake

The devastating earthquake in Syria and Turkey has killed over 40,000 people, according to Reuters.

Thousands are reportedly still missing under rubble and collapsed buildings. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "We can call it the disaster of the century."

Woman and her two children rescued after surviving 9 days under the rubble of Turkey’s earthquake

A woman was rescued from earthquake rubble in Turkey after nine days, according to CNN and Anadolu.

The woman reportedly asked, "What day is it?" and wanted water when pulled from debris.

The devastating 7.8 earthquake in Turkey and Syria has killed over 40,000 people.

WATCH | Syrians in rebel-held areas battle against harsh conditions without aid after earthquake

Syrians in the town on Jandaris were forced onto the street after their homes were destroyed by an earthquake last week. 

Turkey's death toll rises above 36 100 after earthquakes

The death toll from powerful earthquakes that struck on Monday of last week has risen to 36 187 in Turkey, the country's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said on Thursday.

AFAD added that more than 4 300 aftershocks had hit the disaster zone since the initial massive tremor.

-Reuters

17-year-old rescued from rubble in Turkey 248 hours after earthquake hit 

A 17-year-old girl was rescued on Thursday from the rubble of a building that collapsed in the southern central province of Kahramanmaras, 248 hours after a massive earthquake struck the area this week, killing more than 40 000 people in Turkey and Syria.

The state broadcaster TRT Haber reported the rescue on Thursday.

-Reuters

Woman rescued from rubble 222 hours after earthquake

A 42-year-old woman was rescued from the rubble of a building in the southern Turkish city of Kahramanmaras on Wednesday, almost 222 hours after a devastating earthquake struck the region, Turkish media reported.

TV footage sowed rescue workers carrying the woman, named Melike Imamoglu, strapped onto a stretcher, to an ambulance.

-Reuters

UN appeals for nearly $400 million for Syria quake victims

The United Nations launched an appeal for $397 million on Tuesday to help earthquake victims in Syria, where the disaster has killed thousands of people and left millions more in desperate need of aid.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world body was in the "final stages" of a similar appeal for Turkey.

- AFP 

Nearly 9 million Syrians affected by last week's earthquake - UN

Nearly 9 million people in Syria were affected by last weeks' devastating earthquake that hit both Syria and Turkey, the United Nations said in a statement on Tuesday as it launched a $400 million funding appeal to help the situation there.

"Humanitarian agencies will need $397.6 million to respond to the most pressing humanitarian needs over the next three months.", the statement added.

- Reuters 

Woman rescued from rubble in Turkey 203 hours after earthquake

A woman was rescued from the rubble of a building in the southern Turkish city of Hatay on Tuesday, some 203 hours after a devastating earthquake struck the region, Turkish media reported.

Children sleep as earthquake survivors live in a tent in an amusement park which has turned into a shelter for earthquake victims in Idlib, Syria on 13 February 2023.

(PHOTO: Muhammed Said/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

First Saudi aid plane lands in Syria's government-held areas

A Saudi aid plane landed at a Syrian airport held by the government of President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday in the first such shipment from the kingdom that has backed the armed opposition to Assad during the country's 11-year civil war.

Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya reported that the plane carrying 35 tons of food and medical aid and shelter arrived at Aleppo International airport as part of a Saudi humanitarian operation to help Syrians affected by last week's deadly earthquake.

It said the operation was carried out on the orders of Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

-Reuters

Three people rescued in Turkey 198 hours after earthquake

An 18-year-old named Muhammed Cafer was rescued from the rubble of a building in southern Turkey on Tuesday, the third rescue of the morning some 198 hours after last week's devastating earthquake, broadcaster CNN Turk said.

A short while earlier, rescue workers pulled two brothers alive from the ruins of an apartment block in neighbouring Kahramanmaras province.

State-owned Anadolu news agency identified them as 17-year-old Muhammed Enes Yeninar and his brother, 21-year-old Baki Yeninar. They were both placed in ambulances and taken to hospital. Their condition was unclear.

-Reuters

'Are we going to die?': Trauma haunts Turkish kids after quake

Serkan Tatoglu is haunted by the question his six-year-old keeps asking since their house collapsed in last week's earthquake in Turkey.

"Are we going to die?" she wonders, while looking up at scenes reminiscent of an apocalyptic movie set.

Coffins line roadsides, and ambulance sirens wail around the clock.

Walking through the rubble of flattened buildings, children watch as rescue workers lift body bags from the putrid-smelling debris.

UN Security Council meets on aid to quake-hit Syria

The UN Security Council meets behind closed doors Monday to address ways to boost humanitarian assistance to Syria following the devastating recent earthquake, amid growing calls to open new border crossings to deliver aid.

The meeting requested by Switzerland and Brazil - the United Nations co-leaders on the Syria humanitarian file - will feature a presentation to council members by UN humanitarian affairs chief Martin Griffiths, who this weekend visited Turkey and Syria where anger over the pace of aid has swelled.

But even before the session, his message was clear.

"We have so far failed the people in north-west Syria," Griffiths said Sunday on Twitter."

They rightly feel abandoned," he said, adding that it was the international community's obligation "to correct this failure as fast as we can."

The 7.8-magnitude quake that struck Syria and Turkey on 5 February has so far killed more than 35 000 people and left communities in both countries desperate for emergency help.

Before the earthquake struck, almost all of the crucial humanitarian aid for the more than four million people living in rebel-controlled areas of northwestern Syria was being delivered from Turkey through the Bab al-Hawa crossing.

- AFP 

Syrian humanitarian organisations' workers hold signs during a demonstration denouncing the failure of the United Nations to provide aid to rebel areas following the earthquake.

The WHO chief said yesterday that Syria's President Bashar al-Assad had voiced openness to more border crossings for aid to be brought to quake victims in the country's rebel-held northwest.

(PHOTO: OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP)

Historic city destroyed by earthquake

Once a home to a myriad civilisations, the southern city of Antakya lies in ruins after last Monday's 7.8-magnitude quake.

Fourteen centuries of history were ravaged in less than two minutes in Antakya, a fabled ancient Greek centre known throughout most of its history as Antioch.

A Greek Orthodox church erected in the 14th century - and rebuilt in 1870 after another earthquake- is gone. A white cross that once stood on its pointed roof now lies atop shattered walls and broken pieces of wood.

(PHOTO: YASIN AKGUL / AFP)

Teenager rescued from rubble in Turkey 182 hours after quake

Rescuers pulled an alive 13-year-old out from under the rubble of a collapsed building in Turkey's southern Hatay province on Monday, Reuters footage showed, more than a week after a devastating earthquake struck.

The teenager held a rescuer's hand as he was placed on a stretcher, head braced, and covered for warmth, before he was moved into an ambulance.

-Reuters

Relatives warm up around a fire in front of rubble of collapsed buildings as rescue teams continue to search victims and survivors, after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the border region of Turkey and Syria earlier in the week, in Kahramanmaras on 12 February 2023.

(PHOTO: OZAN KOSE / AFP)

Quake stalls election campaign of Turkey's splintered opposition

Turkey's splintered political opposition was supposed to agree on Monday on a joint candidate to challenge Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 20-year grip on power at the ballot box.

But a catastrophic earthquake, which has killed more than 35 000 people in Turkey and Syria, has postponed the meeting and thrown the timing of May elections into doubt.

Ruling and opposition party sources now feverishly speculate that Erdogan will delay the 14 May presidential and parliamentary polls in the wake of Turkey's worst disaster of modern times.

-AFP

Earthquake could cost Turkey up to $84 billion - business group

Turkey's worst earthquake in almost a century has left a trail of destruction that could cost Ankara up to $84.1 billion, a business group said, while a government official put the figure at more than $50 billion.

A report published at the weekend by the Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation put the cost of the damage at $84.1 billion - $70.8 billion from the repair of thousands of homes, $10.4 billion from loss of national income and $2.9 billion from loss of working days.

-Reuters

A baby stroller in front of a collapsed building on 12 February 2023 in Kahramanmaras, as rescue efforts start to wind down.

(PHOTO: OZAN KOSE / AFP)

Slow response in disaster zone led to many more lives being lost 

Many in Turkey say more people could have survived the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the south of the country and neighboring Syria a week ago if the emergency response had been faster and better organized.

Reuters spoke to dozens of residents and overwhelmed first-responders who expressed bewilderment at a lack of water, food, medicine, body bags and cranes in the disaster zone in the days following the quake - leaving hundreds of thousands of people to fend for themselves in the depths of winter.

-Reuters

Emirati rescuers continue their search and rescue operations in the regime-controlled town of Jableh in the province of Latakia, northwest of the Syrian capital, on 12 February 2023.

(PHOTO: KARIM SAHIB / AFP)

Death toll rises above 35 000 in Turkey, Syria earthquake

The death toll from a catastrophic earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria climbed above 35 000 on Monday, with search and rescue teams starting to wind down their work.

Officials and medics said 31 643 people had died in Turkey and 3 581 in Syria from last Monday's 7.8-magnitude tremor, bringing the confirmed total to 35 224.

-AFP

Earthquake rescue phase 'coming to a close' - UN aid chief

The Turkey and Syria earthquake's rescue phase is 'coming to a close', with urgency now switching to providing shelter, food, schooling and psychosocial care, United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths said during a visit to Aleppo in northern Syria on Monday.

"What is the most striking here, is even in Aleppo, which has suffered so much these many years, this moment, that moment... was about the worst that these people have experienced," Griffiths added.

The UN official also mentioned that the United Nations will have aid moving from government-held regions in Syria to the rebel-held northwest of the country - also devastated by the deadly earthquake.

-Reuters

Rescuers dig for three survivors in rubble in Turkey a week after earthquake

Rescuers pulled a woman alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Turkey on Monday and another team was digging a tunnel to reach what was believed to be a trapped grandmother, mother and 30-day-old baby, broadcaster CNN Turk reported.

Rescue workers in Kahramanmaras had also made contact with three survivors, believed to be a mother, daughter and baby, in the ruins of a building, the broadcaster reported.

-Reuters

Death toll hits 33 000 in Turkey, Syria quake

The death toll from a catastrophic earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria climbed to 33 000 on Sunday, with the United Nations warning that the final number may double.

Officials and medics said 29 605 people had died in Turkey and 3 574 in Syria from Monday's 7.8-magnitude tremor, bringing the confirmed total to 33 179.

- AFP

Earthquake death toll in Turkey, Syria passes 28 000 - UN expects toll to double

Kahramanmaras – Rescuers pulled a seven-month-old baby and a teenage girl from the rubble on Sunday, nearly a week after an earthquake devastated Turkey and Syria and killed more than 28 000.

UN relief chief Martin Griffiths said he expected the death toll to at least double after he arrived in southern Turkey on Saturday to assess the quake's damage.

Tens of thousands of rescue workers are scouring flattened neighbourhoods despite freezing weather that has deepened the misery of millions now in desperate need of aid.

Security concerns led some aid operations to be suspended, and dozens of people have been arrested for looting or trying to defraud victims in the aftermath of the quake in Turkey, according to state media.

Officials and medics said 24,617 people had died in Turkey and 3,574 in Syria. The confirmed total now stands at 28,191.

 - AFP

Death toll rises above 25 000 in Turkey, Syria quake

The death toll from a catastrophic earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria climbed to more than 25 000 on Saturday, as rescuers worked in freezing weather to find people alive.

Officials and medics said 21 848 people had died in Turkey and 3 553 in Syria from Monday's 7.8-magnitude tremor, bringing the confirmed total to 25 401.

Turkey detains 12 over collapsed buildings after quake: report

Turkish police have detained 12 people over collapsed buildings in the southeastern provinces of Gaziantep and Sanliurfa, local media reported Saturday, following the huge quake that hit Turkey.

Those taken into custody included contractors, DHA news agency said. At least 6,000 buildings collapsed after a 7.8-magnitude tremor hit the region, killing nearly 25,000 people.

- AFP

WHO chief arrives in Syria's quake-hit Aleppo: state media

World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived on Saturday in Syria's quake-stricken city of Aleppo, state media reported.

Tedros "arrived at Aleppo airport to tour some hospitals and shelters with (Syria's) health minister and the governor of Aleppo", the official news agency SANA said.

His visit came five days after a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Turkey and Syria, killing more than 24,000 people including at least 3,553 in war-torn Syria alone. Upon his arrival, Tedros said he was accompanying "emergency medical supplies of around 37 metric tonnes".

"We are very happy that we could come with the supplies," he told reporters at Aleppo airport.

"This is the first supply we are sending." He added that the WHO would continue to provide emergency medical services and bring in more emergency supplies necessary for "trauma management".

"Tomorrow, there will be another round with more than 30 metric tonnes," he said. He expressed concern over the after-effects of the earthquake, especially the disruption of services.

"People are exposed to diarrhoeal diseases... and other health problems especially mental health problems," he said. "We will work together to address the impact of the earthquake, not only the emergency services during the earthquake."  

- AFP

Turkey to act against those involved in looting – Erdogan

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday the government would take action against those involved in looting and other crimes in the region hit by this week's devastating earthquakes as the issue of security there came into focus.

"We've declared a state of emergency," he said during a visit to the disaster zone. "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," he said.

On Friday he said there had been looting in some areas. It was not clear what incidents of kidnapping Erdogan was referring to.

The security in the quake zone has come into focus after the Austrian army suspended rescue operations there due to what its spokesperson called "an increasingly difficult security situation".

Erdogan also said that hundreds of thousands of buildings were uninhabitable across southern Turkey and that authorities would soon start the rebuilding process.

"We've planned to rebuild hundreds of thousands buildings," he said. "We will start taking concrete steps within a few weeks."

The death toll in Turkey has risen to 21 043, he added.

- Reuters

 Turkish woman dies day after her rescue following 104 hours under quake rubble

A woman died in hospital on Saturday a day after she was pulled out of the rubble of a collapsed building in southern Turkey, where she had been trapped for 104 hours since Monday's devastating earthquake, rescuers said.

German rescuers pulled 40-year-old Zeynep Kahraman out of the rubble in the town of Kirikhan in southern Turkey on Friday. They hailed her survival a "miracle" as search and rescue efforts in the aftermath of the region's deadliest quake in decades kept turning up more bodies.

"We have just learned from the brother and sister that Zeynep sadly passed away in the hospital," said Steven Bayer, the leader of German International Search and Rescue team. "We have just informed the team that she has unfortunately passed away and are now processing this in the team."

As some rescuers, choking back tears, comforted each other, the team doctor said the risks were particularly high during the first 48 hours after such complicated rescue operation.

"After all, she was really buried for over 100 hours. Not trapped, but buried," Peter Kaub said.

But he stressed the rescuers' effort was not in vain.

"To be able to die in the arms of one's family and to be able to live the last moments before that, every second counts," he said. "After 10 hours, after we started, she had first human contact and could talk to the translator and to us, then even to her family. And in the end, her family was able to hold her in their arms."

- Reuters