Socialites, let’s continue to pray for the people of Syria and Turkey as the death toll following Monday’s earthquake has skyrocketed to more than 20,000. At least 17,000 of those deaths occurred in Turkey while another 3,000 were confirmed in Syria, and those numbers are only expected to rise as aid workers are said to be struggling to get to the victims trapped under the rubble.
As previously reported, both nations were hit with a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that caused hundreds of buildings to collapse, subsequently killing thousands and separating families from one another. It’s said that aid workers who have been trying to rescue as many survivors as they can be given a 72-hour window; the time frame in which people are likely to be found.
Some more heartwarming footage coming out of the Turkey earthquake zone, rescuers we able to free a little friend!
(https://t.co/04q4SYvMUs) pic.twitter.com/8xPUil5gJW— 🥀_Imposter_🕸️ (@Imposter_Edits) February 8, 2023
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But with Syria and Turkey having now entered day four since the devastating effect of the earthquake, chances of finding any survivors at this point seem very slim. Meanwhile, Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has come under fire for not expediting the process of sending out more rescue teams to find people’s loved ones who’ve been missing since Monday.
In a press conference, however, Erdogan made it clear that the search efforts will continue, assuring that everything is being done to find as many survivors as possible. “It is not possible to be prepared for such a disaster. We will not leave any of our citizens uncared for,” he continued.
Citizens in the city of Hatay, where the earthquake appeared to have impacted Turkey the most, have been told to be cautious of their surroundings in case more buildings could continue to collapse in the forthcoming days, while some people have been forced to sleep on the street after losing their homes in the natural disaster.
This is one of the most devastating videos I’ve seen come out of Turkey after the earthquake.
Rescue workers shout: “can anyone hear our voice?”
The silence that follows is gut wrenching. pic.twitter.com/sWSbVigb75
— Fatima (@fatimazsaid) February 8, 2023
They prepared the grave for them .. 💔Then it turned out that they were alive ، the joy of the Syrian father is indescribable to meet his family ♥️#TurkeySyriaEarthquake #Turkey #Syrien #earthquakeinturkey #earthquake #زلزال_ترکیا_وسوريا #syriaearthquake pic.twitter.com/MGCUAQj7w3
— saraqur (@saraqr_61) February 9, 2023
RELATED: PRAYERS: More Than 1,900 People Dead In Turkey, Syria After 7.8-Magnitude Earthquake
Elsewhere, Osmon Yildirim, who works as a civil engineer, says that if Turkey had taken the right actions following their last major earthquake in 1999, the thousands of people who have died from Monday’s disaster could have been avoided. “This could have been prevented with the right steps starting 25 years ago,” he said. “The government didn’t take necessary steps to minimize risks through urban planning, low-rise buildings, construction codes, and strict control.”
As a result, the older and newer buildings collapsed. Socialites, let’s continue to send positive energy and our sincere condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in the earthquake destruction.