Hope dims as critical 72-hour window passes. More rescue efforts have been deployed on this Thursday as the death toll surpassed 16,000, but hopes of finding survivors dramatically dwindled on the fourth day of rescue parties. Experts say that while people can survive in the rubble for a week, the first 72 hours of the earthquake hold crucial significance.
On Wednesday 8 February, Turkey President Tayyip Erdogan admitted his government’s initial incompetence to respond to such a mighty earthquake in southern Turkey, amidst growing frustrations over the slow despatch of rescue teams. According to the turkish authorities, some 13.5 million people found themselves in the crisis zone covering approximately 450 km from Adana in the west to Diyarbakir in the east. In Syria, people lost their lives in Hama, 250 km from the epicentre of the quake.
Meanwhile, as a part of India’s ‘Operation Dosti’, the sixth plane transporting rescue personnel, food and medical aid for earthquake relief and solidarity measures landed on Turkey on Thursday 9 October. The aircraft brought additional rescue teams, dog squads, and medicines for the quake-hit people.
Turkey and Syria earthquake: Death toll crosses 16,000
