The Turkish government has declared a three-month state of emergency in the ten provinces hit on Monday by two strong earthquakes that have already left at least 3,549 dead and 22,000 injured in the country.
This was announced by the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who pointed out that 5,000 million euros ($ 5,300 million) in emergency aid will be allocated to those regions.
Erdogan pointed out that the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes, in addition to numerous milder aftershocks, fall under a phenomenon called “triggering,” where one quake triggers the next.
Erdogan stated that this disaster is not only one of the most serious in Turkey’s history, but worldwide.
The head of state had already assured yesterday that these earthquakes are the biggest disaster the country has suffered since the 1939 Erzincan earthquake in eastern Turkey, which killed more than 32,000 people and triggered a tsunami in the Black Sea, about 160 kilometers from Turkey. the epicenter.
The president lamented that the hundreds of aftershocks, some with a magnitude of 6, are hampering the search for survivors.
So far, he said, some 8,000 people have been found alive.
Erdogan confirmed that all schools in the country will be closed until February 13 and in affected areas until February 20.
He also pointed out that some 50,000 people are participating in the rescue efforts of those believed to be buried under the rubble of the thousands of buildings that have collapsed.
Ten naval ships and 26 military aircraft participate in the evacuation of casualties.
He also indicated that the victims will be evacuated in an orderly manner from the devastated areas, which are home to some 13 million people, and that some of them will be housed in tourist facilities.
Erdogan thanked the material and human assistance of seventy countries and fourteen international organizations.
Source: El heraldo
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
