Turkey earthquake: Death toll tops 11,000 and Erdogan visits survivors
More than 11,000 people have been killed in Turkey and northern Syria following the deadly earthquakes that shook the countries and collapsed thousands of people – leaving many still trapped in the rubble, in freezing conditions.
Residents in some of the worst-hit areas have said the rescue efforts have been slow and has meant they have had to help dig through the ruins to find relatives.
Turkey’s president Recap Tayyip Erdogan has today visited the earthquake disaster zone and acknowledged there had been difficulties with the initial response. He blamed the delay on damaged roads and airports.
Syrian government asks for help from EU
Syria has now officially asked for assistance under a scheme that’s designed to support countries hit by natural disasters – the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism.
Turkey had already done so – with search and rescue teams en route or in the country – but has now broadened its request for help to things such as blankets, tents and heaters.
In Brussels, at a crisis management centre, they’re working out what help can be coordinated.
Sending teams to Syria would be more complicated than Turkey – with control in the north divided between the government and rebel groups.
Yesterday, the EU said it was seeking to provide aid in Syria through existing humanitarian networks.
