More than 23,000 dead in Turkey and Syria, rescue operations continue for more survivors

Turkey, February 11 (Press Key Power Bureau): Emergency strikes sparked a series of dramatic rescues in Turkey on Friday, pulling several people from the rubble, four days after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, killing more than 23,000 people. pulled out Temperatures remain below freezing in large areas, and many people have nowhere to live. The Turkish government has distributed hot meals, as well as tents and blankets, to millions of people, but is still struggling to reach those in need. The United Nations has pledged $25 million in grants for people in Syria’s earthquake-hit areas. This is in addition to the $25 million in grants announced earlier this week for emergency operations in both Turkey and Syria. Turkey has tempted fate by not enforcing modern construction codes for years — and in some cases, encouraging — a real estate boom in earthquake-prone areas, experts say. Around 130 international urban search and rescue teams are working in the earthquake-hit region of Turkey, aided from across international borders. According to an IANS report, Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said another 57 international search and rescue teams were on their way. At the request of the Turkish government, two UN disaster assessment and coordination teams with a total of 50 members have been deployed to support the coordination of operations in Gaziantep and four hubs in the affected area, he said on Friday. He said a separate UN disaster assessment and coordination team had arrived in Syria and was stationed in Aleppo, Homs and Latakia to support the response there. Although experts say those trapped can live for a week or more, the chances of finding survivors are slim. Rescue operations in Syria and Turkey on Friday provided some moments of joy and relief amid the tragedy gripping the shattered region, where morgues and cemeteries dominate. Emergency crews carried out a series of dramatic rescues in Turkey on Friday, pulling scores of people from the rubble four days after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed more than 23,000 in Turkey and Syria.