by Middle East Eye News Staff at Middle East Eye
At least 23 million people affected as buildings levelled across Turkey’s south and Syria’s northwest:
- Thousands in Syria at risk of freezing to death
- Turkish MP among those killed
- Egypt’s Sisi calls Erdogan and Assad
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Thousands of search and rescue workers and volunteers have been dispatched by the Turkish government to aid in the rescue and relief operations, as the death toll continues to mount.
According to the country’s disaster management agency, Afad, a total of 60,217 personnel are working on the relief efforts, and 4,746 vehicles and construction machinery have been deployed in the earthquake zone.
Afad added that 10 ships and 100 aircraft have also been deployed. Turkey has also sent supplies to the disaster-stricken areas, including 54,511 tents, 102,254 mattresses, 300,000 blankets and 4,602 kitchen sets.
▪️ Since the 7.7 magnitude quake that occurred in Kahramanmaraş, a total of 435 earthquakes have taken place.
▪️ A total of 60,217 personnel are working on the relief efforts, along with 4,746 vehicles and construction machinery in the earthquake zone.
— AFAD (@AFADTurkiye) February 7, 2023
As we reach the 48-hour mark since the earthquakes took place, freezing weather is making rescue efforts difficult in Turkey and Syria.
With daytime weather staying above zero degrees Celsius, the night will be the coldest as temperatures in places like Gaziantep, near the epicentre of the earthquake in Turkey, could hit lows of -5C, according to Sky News Weather.
“We have to fight against the weather and the earthquake at the same time,” said Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay.
Earthquake-hit areas will be mainly dry for the rest of this week, after a winter storm brought strong winds, heavy rain and mountain snow to Turkey and parts of the Middle East.
The first 72 hours of the rescue operation are the most crucial to reaching survivors stuck under the rubble. Experts, however, have told MEE that with the freezing temperatures that time period could be even shorter, as many risk hypothermia.