The death toll in Turkey and Syria has increased significantly, and rescuers are only starting to work in several places, so it is predicted that the scene will be even more painful, writes Reuters.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has declared a three-month state of emergency in the regions most affected by the earthquake. Meanwhile, residents are growing angry that rescue operations are slow and the authorities are not responding appropriately.
Rescue workers face difficulties in reaching the worst-hit regions, hampered by destroyed roads, bad weather, lack of resources, and heavy equipment. Several regions are without electricity and fuel.
Officials report that the death toll has already reached 8,000, and more than 35,000 people have been injured. At least 1,932 people have died in Syria.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said: «Every minute, every hour that passes, extinguishes the hope of finding survivors.»
More than 12,000 emergency services personnel, as well as 9,000 soldiers, are involved in rescue and search operations. More than 70 countries have offered help. A German Fire and Rescue Service officer, moving equipment onto a truck at Adana Airport, said he had never seen anything like it before.
Two rescue teams with 12 specially trained dogs from the US will arrive in Turkey on Wednesday, the 8th of February, morning.
Representatives of aid organizations are particularly worried about the situation in Syria, where the war has already caused great damage. UNICEF representative James Elder said that the war refugees in northeastern Syria and Turkey are the least protected victims of the earthquake. Aid is limited in the war-torn country, and the work of international teams is also hampered by a lack of resources.
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