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The death toll from last week’s twin earthquakes in Turkey and Syria has risen to 29,605 and 1,414 respectively.
Meanwhile, the number of injured has risen to over 80,000 in Turkey and 2,349 in Syria, according to official figures released on Sunday.
Turkey has issued arrest warrants for 134 people suspected of being involved in the shoddy construction of buildings that collapsed during the earthquakes, according to Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag on Sunday.
Three of the suspects were apprehended, according to Bozdag.
More than 20,000 buildings have been destroyed as a result of the devastating earthquakes, according to the Xinhua news agency.
Yavuz and Sevilay Karakus, contractors of many buildings destroyed in the earthquake in southern Adiyaman province, were detained at Istanbul Airport on Sunday while attempting to flee to Georgia, according to the local NTV broadcaster.
According to the semi-official Anadolu Agency, two more people were arrested for cutting the column of a building that collapsed in Gaziantep province.
On the seventh day of the disaster, thousands of rescuers continued to search for signs of life in collapsed multi-story buildings. The chances of finding alive survivors are dwindling, but the teams are still pulling off some incredible rescues.
Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca posted a video of a girl child rescued at the 150th hour. “Rescued a little while ago by crews. There is always hope!” he tweeted on Sunday.
Rescue workers rescued two 65-year-old women in Hatay province’s Antakya district 160 hours after the earthquake, according to the Anadolu Agency.
On Sunday afternoon, 150 hours after the quake struck the region, Chinese and local rescuers rescued a survivor from the rubble in the Antakya district of Hatay province.
Algeria and Libya also sent relief supplies to the earthquake-affected areas on Sunday.
Meanwhile, foreign heads of state and ministers have begun to visit Turkey and Syria to express solidarity.
On Sunday, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias paid a visit to Turkey to express solidarity. “We will continue to do our best to overcome difficult times, both bilaterally and at the European Union level,” said Dendias, the first European Foreign Minister visiting Turkey after the disaster.
The Greek Foreign Minister’s visit comes amid long-standing territorial disputes between the two NATO members.
On Sunday, Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the first foreign head of state to visit earthquake-ravaged Turkey, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul.
The first batch of 10,000 container houses for earthquake victims in Turkey has arrived in Qatar, according to the Anadolu Agency.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, visited Syria on Sunday, promising continued support for the country in dealing with the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, according to Syrian state news agency SANA.
Source:IANS
