Turkey, Syria quakes death toll continues to rise

It has been a week since two massive earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria, killing tens of thousands of people and there is a growing belief that the number will go up as the search for survivors continues.

READ MORE: Canada sends rescue teams to help search in Turkey, Syria

For people living in southeast Turkey and northwest Syria, it’s been a historically tragic week.

Both countries are estimating that at least 36,000 people have been killed and 70,000 injured by a pair of powerful earthquakes and aftershocks.

The United Nations says, “what happened here on Monday, the epicentre of the earthquake was the worst event in 100 years in this region.”

READ MORE: Turkey, Syria earthquake deadliest seismic event in 10 years

Survivors are defying the odds and are still being found beneath the rubble seven days after being buried alive. Rescuers aren’t expecting to see much more of this. Reports on the ground share a sense that the search efforts are coming to an end.

The focus is slowly turning to protect those who did survive as temperatures drop to near freezing at night.

International support, particularly for the Syrian people is lacking. The U.N. Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief tweeted:

At the #Türkiye–#Syria border today.
We have so far failed the people in north-west Syria.
They rightly feel abandoned. Looking for international help that hasn’t arrived.
My duty and our obligation is to correct this failure as fast as we can.
That’s my focus now.

— UN Relief Chief (@UNReliefChief) February 12, 2023

In Turkey, the government is wondering if the devastation could have been prevented with better-built towers.

Turkey’s vice president said Saturday that arrest warrants have been issued for 131 people suspected of being responsible for collapsed buildings.

In a sign that the earthquake crosses political lines, the United Nations says Syria’s president has agreed to open two new crossing points from Turkey to rebel-held northwest to deliver aid to those affected by the earthquakes.

READ MORE: Canada to give $10M in aid after deadly Turkey-Syria earthquake