Morocco earthquake survivors sleep on streets as death toll crosses 2000

Anger mounts over slow aid

  • The death toll from the Turkey-Syria earthquakes has crossed 41,000.
  • Turkish authorities say 35,418 people have been killed in the country. Syrian government, UN say more than 5,800 people dead in Syria.
  • Aid has begun trickling in to northwestern Syria, nine days after the quakes, with a UN convoy carrying humanitarian assistance passing through the Bab al-Salam crossing from Turkey.
  • The WHO is describing the earthquakes in Turkey as the worst natural disaster in a century in what it characterises as its Europe region.
  • The UN is appealing for $397m in aid to help five million Syrian survivors with shelter, healthcare and food.

Al-Jazeera
 
Mother, two children pulled from rubble, 228 hours after quake

  • The death toll from the Turkey-Syria earthquakes is nearing 42,000.
  • Turkish authorities say 36,187 people have been killed in the country. The Syrian government and the United Nations say more than 5,800 people have died in Syria.
  • Yet rescuers are also continuing to find survivors: A mother and her two children were rescued in Turkey’s Antakya, 228 hours after the first earthquake.
  • The World Health Organization says the “zone of greatest concern” is northwestern Syria, where anger is growing over the slow delivery of humanitarian assistance.
  • The UN is appealing for $397m in aid to help 5 million Syrian survivors with shelter, healthcare and food.

Al-Jazeera
 
UN launches $1bn appeal for earthquake aid operations in Turkey
After launching a $400m appeal for Syrians, the United Nations has now appealed for funds for the Turkish relief operation.

The United Nations has appealed for more than $1bn in funds for the Turkish earthquake relief operation, just two days after launching a $400m appeal for Syrians.

UN aid chief Martin Griffiths, who visited Turkey last week, said on Thursday that the people have “experienced unspeakable heartache”, adding: “We must stand with them in their darkest hour and ensure they receive the support they need.”

The February 6 earthquake has so far killed at least 36,187 in southern Turkey, while authorities in neighbouring Syria have reported 5,800 deaths.

Rescue efforts have continued in Turkey, but the number of people rescued daily has dwindled significantly.

A teenage girl was pulled alive from the rubble in the province of Kahramanmaras on Thursday – more than 10 days after a devastating earthquake hit the region. But such rescues have become increasingly rare.

...
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023...for-1-billion-in-aid-for-turkey-quake-victims
 
The body of former Newcastle United footballer Christian Atsu has been found under the rubble of the building where he lived in Turkey, his agent has said.
 
Lets get back to topic

Turkish and world politics are not for this thread.
 
ANTAKYA, Turkey Feb 20 (Reuters) - A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck southern Turkey near the Syrian border late on Monday, setting off panic and further damaging buildings two weeks after the country's worst earthquake in modern history left tens of thousands dead.

Additional reporting by Ece Toksabay in Ankara; Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Mark Heinrich, Alexander Smith and Jonathan Spicer
 
The city of Antakya in Turkey, has been almost completely demolished by the recent earthquake.

This city is known in the Bible as Antioch-in-Syria, where the disciples were first called Christians.

This is the Church of St Peter, said to be the original church.
 
There has been over 6000 aftershocks after the 6th Feb quake. Prayers and thoughts with the people , the fear they must be going through would be very scary.
 
It makes you wonder how safe it is to live in Turkey? Even if they build back everything, it is only one quake away from becoming a pile of rubble again.
 
It makes you wonder how safe it is to live in Turkey? Even if they build back everything, it is only one quake away from becoming a pile of rubble again.

It is very unsafe indeed. Turkey is sitting on one of the most active faultlines in the world. Only a matter of time before they get another big earthquake.

I'm surprised that the authorities, while knowing this fully, have allowed the construction of multi-storeyed concrete apartment blocks without any protection. They should get help from the Japanese in designing earthquake-resistant buildings.
 
One of the reasons so many people died is because erdogan did not follow the rules for construction to prevent earthquakes. He is boasting about it in a video from 2019. That’s one of the reasons why so many deaths.
 
There has been over 6000 aftershocks after the 6th Feb quake. Prayers and thoughts with the people , the fear they must be going through would be very scary.

Prayers to stop the earthquakes? Why would God send earthquakes to kill 50,000 Muslims?

This is one reason why I am irreligious.
 
One of the reasons so many people died is because erdogan did not follow the rules for construction to prevent earthquakes. He is boasting about it in a video from 2019. That’s one of the reasons why so many deaths.

What are the rules for construction to prevent earthquakes?
 
Turkey fines broadcasters for coverage critical of earthquake response
Halk TV, Tele 1 and FOX penalised for reporting shortcomings in the Erdoğan government’s handling of the disaster

Turkey’s media regulator fined three broadcasters for their coverage of the earthquake in the country’s south that killed more than 42,000 people, an opposition-nominated member of its board said in criticising the decision.

Halk TV, Tele 1 and FOX were all handed fines, calculated based on their revenues for the month beforehand, for reporting shortcomings in the government’s earthquake response.

The three channels are known for editorial lines critical of the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Halk TV is strongly aligned with the CHP party, Turkey’s main opposition.

Collapsed and damaged buildings in Hatay, Turkey
Thousands dead, millions displaced: the earthquake fallout in Turkey and Syria
Read more
Erdoğan unleashed a sweeping crackdown after a failed coup in 2016 that placed much of the media under the control of the government and its business allies.


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He will seek re-election this year, and his administration’s handling of the quake has become a key battleground. Many destitute families have lashed out at the government for failing to reach them and save their loved ones from the rubble.

The main opposition leader, who is running neck and neck with Erdogan in opinion polls, has spearheaded the criticism.

Turkey in October passed a law punishing the dissemination of “fake news” by up to three years in prison.

According to Reporters Without Borders, Turkey ranked 149 out of 180 for press freedom in 2022.

Halk TV and Tele 1 were fined 5% of their January revenues, said Ilhan Tasci, a member of the regulator’s board who was nominated by opposition parties.

They were also ordered to suspend one of their daily programmes for five days.

Halk TV and FOX TV were also fined 3% of their January turnover for separate infractions, he added.

“All these penalties were based on comments and news after the earthquake,” he wrote.

“We live in a time when reporting is considered a crime.”

The head of Turkey’s Journalists’ Association, Nazmi Bilgin, called the decisions a “crime” against viewers, and described the regulator as a “censorship board”.

“With these penalties, the criminal members of [the regulator], who disregard the right of the public to receive news and the right of the earthquake victims to be informed, commit a great crime,” he said.

The editor-in-chief of Tele 1, Merdan Yanardag, called the penalties a “complete disgrace”.
 
Great news from Turkey and Inshallah, things will get better.

==

Turkey has begun work to rebuild homes following this month's devastating earthquakes, a government official said on Friday, as the combined death count in Turkey and Syria surpassed 50,000.

More than 160,000 buildings containing 520,000 apartments collapsed or were severely damaged in the Feb. 6 earthquakes that killed tens of thousands in Turkey and neighbouring Syria.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) announced the death count in Turkey due to earthquakes rose to 44,218 on Friday night.

With Syria's latest announced death count of 5,914, the combined death count in the two countries rose to above 50,000.

Facing an election within months, President Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to rebuild homes within a year, although experts have said the authorities should put safety before speed. Some buildings that were meant to withstand tremors crumbled in the latest earthquakes.

"For several projects, tenders and contracts have been done. The process is moving very fast," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, adding there would be no compromise on safety.

Authorities say tents have been dispatched for the many who are homeless, but people have reported trouble accessing them.

"I have eight children. We are living in a tent. There is water on top (of the tent) and the ground is damp. We are asking for more tents and they don't give them to us," Melek, 67, who was waiting in a line to collect aid outside a high school in the town of Hassa.

The school was being used as an aid distribution center by a group of volunteers called Interrail Turkey. One volunteer, Sumeyye Karabocek, said the shortage of tents remained the biggest problem.

NDTV
 
Hope the winter stays away. Terrible situation. Hopefully this time around they build the buildings to the proper building codes .
 
Are you saying there is mo ways to make the buildings Less earthquake prone? The Japanese would like to have a word with you

No I was just asking what they were since you said that Erdogan didn't follow these rules for earthquake construction. So I assumed you must know something about this form of construction in such areas.
 
No I was just asking what they were since you said that Erdogan didn't follow these rules for earthquake construction. So I assumed you must know something about this form of construction in such areas.

I am not an architect. Plenty of articles out there and even a video of erdogan boasting that he bypassed the rules. I mean Japan is famous for building earthquake resistant buildings
 
I am not an architect. Plenty of articles out there and even a video of erdogan boasting that he bypassed the rules. I mean Japan is famous for building earthquake resistant buildings

Japan has a better economy. They also don't have to deal with American war, communist terrorists (PKK) etc.

Turkey has more challenges. It is unrealistic to compare Turkey's situation to Japan.
 
No I was just asking what they were since you said that Erdogan didn't follow these rules for earthquake construction. So I assumed you must know something about this form of construction in such areas.

Not sure how Erdogan can be blamed for constructors cutting corners. Hundreds of firms are being prosecuted, I hear.
 
Japan has a better economy. They also don't have to deal with American war, communist terrorists (PKK) etc.

Turkey has more challenges. It is unrealistic to compare Turkey's situation to Japan.
Or maybe if erdogan just did not bypass the building codes to protect the buildings that were built from earthquakes. Maybe that is the biggest reason. Don’t you think. I mean he is on video boasting about it.
 
Plenty of reports of him letting his buddies get away with and bypass the laws for building. Obviously I assume not all buildings.
 
More than 600 people are now being investigated in Turkey over buildings that collapsed in the deadly earthquake on 6 February, the government has said.

On Saturday, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said 184 suspects - including construction contractors and property owners - had already been arrested.

For years, experts warned that endemic corruption and government policies meant many new buildings were unsafe.

The confirmed death toll in Turkey and Syria has now exceeded 50,000.

Mr Bozdag made the televised remarks from south-eastern Turkey, where the 7.8 magnitude quake struck and was followed by another powerful tremor just hours later.

His comments showed how the investigation had widened - two weeks ago, the authorities said that 113 arrest warrants had been issued.

Among those that have been arrested is a mayor of one of the towns close to where the tremors hit, Turkish media reported.

More than 160,00 buildings collapsed or were severely damaged in Turkey after the quakes, raising questions about whether the natural disaster's impact was made worse by human failings.

BBC
 
At least 632 people died and 329 were injured in an earthquake that struck Morocco on Friday, state TV said, citing the ministry of the interior.

Career options after bcom
Of those injured, 51 were in a critical condition, the ministry said, after the 6.8-magnitude quake that struck 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of tourist hotspot Marrakesh.

Strong tremors were also felt in the coastal cities of Rabat, Casablanca and Essaouira.

“We felt a very violent tremor, and I realised it was an earthquake,” Abdelhak El Amrani, a 33-year-old in Marrakesh, told AFP by telephone.

“I could see buildings moving. We don’t necessarily have the reflexes for this type of situation. Then I went outside and there were a lot of people there.

People were all in shock and panic. The children were crying and the parents were distraught.“ “The power went out for 10 minutes, and so did the (telephone) network, but then it came back on,” he added. “Everyone decided to stay outside.”

Another 153 people were injured, it added.

“We heard screams at the time of the tremor,” a resident of Essaouira, 200 kilometres west of Marrakesh, told AFP.

“People are in the squares, in the cafes, preferring to sleep outside. Pieces of facades have fallen.”

The USGS PAGER system, which provides preliminary assessments on the impact of earthquakes, issued a red alert for economic losses, saying extensive damage is probable and the disaster is likely widespread.

Past events with this alert level have required a national or international level response, according to the US government agency.

Internet connectivity was disrupted in Marrakesh due to power cuts, according to global internet monitor NetBlocks.

Moroccan media reported it was the most powerful earthquake to hit the country to date.

The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring Algeria, where the Algerian Civil Defence said it had not caused any damage or casualties.

DAWN
 
Terrible news and I am very sorry for the deaths that have occurred, may Allah grant patience to their families.
 
Morocco’s deadliest earthquake in decades has killed at least 820 people, officials said on Saturday, causing widespread damage and sending terrified residents and tourists scrambling to safety in the middle of the night.

The interior ministry said another 672 people were injured, including 205 in critical condition.

Strong tremors were also felt in the coastal cities of Rabat, Casablanca and Essaouira.

DAWN
 
At least 820 people have been killed in Morocco after a powerful earthquake hit several towns and cities, the interior ministry told state TV, adding that at least 672 more have been injured. A search for survivors continues.

A local official said most deaths were in mountainous areas that were hard to reach.

It was Morocco’s deadliest since at least a 2004 tremor in the northern Rif mountains that killed more than 600 people.

The Guardian
 
Thousands of people who survived the Morocco earthquake have spent the night sleeping rough - with many losing their homes or too fearful to head indoors.

At least 2,012 people have died following the powerful 6.8 magnitude tremor on Friday night, and 1,404 others are critically injured.

These numbers are only expected to rise as search and rescue crews battle to access hard-to-reach mountainous areas that have lost electricity and mobile phone reception.

 
Thousands of people who survived the Morocco earthquake have spent the night sleeping rough - with many losing their homes or too fearful to head indoors.

At least 2,012 people have died following the powerful 6.8 magnitude tremor on Friday night, and 1,404 others are critically injured.

These numbers are only expected to rise as search and rescue crews battle to access hard-to-reach mountainous areas that have lost electricity and mobile phone reception.

Terrible situation
 
May Allah SWT grant our brothers and sisters in Morocco ease. A roof over the heads of those who lost their homes, may he reunite the families that were separated. Food, water, gas etc. And maghfira to those that have passed away. Ameen.
 
Sad, sad news! RIP to the deceased, and hope the injured recovers soon!
 
Morocco’s King orders mosques nationwide to hold funeral prayers at noon:

Morocco’s King Mohamed VI has ordered mosques nationwide to hold funeral prayers, known as ‘Janazah’ prayers, at noon on Sunday for those killed in the earthquake.

Flags were flown at half-mast in the country, state news agency said.

On Saturday, Moroccans flocked to hospitals and centers to donate blood as part of a nationwide call to help those injured in the deadly earthquake.

The Regional Blood Transfusion Center of Marrakech launched an appeal for citizens to donate blood following the earthquake.

State and local media showed videos of people donating blood at centers across the country.
CNN
 
Morocco faces a race against time to save those trapped under the rubble by Friday's earthquake, as emergency services battle to supply remote areas.

Villagers continue to dig by hand and shovel to find survivors, as response teams struggle to bring in machinery.

Those same tools may now be needed to prepare graves for some of the thousands killed in the quake.

People "have nothing left," a villager told the BBC. "People are starving. Children want water. They need help."

Friday's earthquake, the country's deadliest in 60 years, struck below a remote cluster of mountainous villages south of Marrakesh.

The government reported that at least 2,122 people were killed and more than 2,421 injured, many critically.

The 6.8-magnitude tremor collapsed homes, blocked roads and swayed buildings as far away as the country's northern coast.


BBC
 
More than 2,100 people have died and more than 2,421 are injured, many critically

The desperate hunt for survivors continues, but response teams are struggling to bring in machinery to remote areas

Villagers have been digging by hand and shovel to find survivors

The Moroccan government says it has accepted emergency aid from the UK, Spain, Qatar and the UAE, and rescue teams from those countries are en route
 
Morocco earthquake toll passes 2,800 as rescuers search for survivors.

Villagers wept for lost relatives in the rubble of their homes on Monday as the death toll from Morocco's deadliest earthquake in more than six decades rose to more than 2,800 and rescuers raced against time to find survivors.


Reuters
 
Earthquake shook the region dont know how many lives has been taken by this devasted earthquake, still there are many places where help couldnt reach.
 
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