As rescue teams continue to search for survivors in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and aftershocks in Turkey and Syria, hopes of finding more people alive are dwindling. The death toll has surpassed 20,000, exceeding the number of deaths in a 2011 earthquake off Japan that triggered a tsunami. The survivors, many of whom have lost their homes and are struggling to access basic necessities, are facing a grim reality.
In Antakya, a young girl was pulled from the rubble of a building, and her father was rescued two hours later, a rare glimmer of hope in a dire situation. However, the majority of those trapped under the rubble or unable to obtain basic necessities are unlikely to be found alive. Experts say the survival window has closed rapidly, with only 6% of those trapped still alive after five days.
Rescue efforts are being hindered by the sheer scale of destruction, with thousands of buildings toppled and a lack of infrastructure in some areas. The Turkish government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has acknowledged problems with the emergency response but is working to distribute aid and rescue personnel. Teams from over two dozen countries are assisting in the effort, but the destruction is so immense that many people are still awaiting help.
Antakya, Turkey
The disaster has added to the already difficult situation in the region, where civil war in Syria has displaced millions and led to widespread suffering. Aid efforts have been hampered by the ongoing war and the isolation of the rebel-held region along the border, which is surrounded by Russia-backed government forces. The UN has arrived with aid trucks in north-west Syria, but the difficulty of getting help to people in the country is evident.
As the rescue efforts continue, the focus is shifting from finding survivors to providing aid to those affected by the disaster. The government has promised to distribute emergency funds to affected families, but the scale of the destruction and the number of people affected mean that the task is monumental.
