Tent Shortage in Turkey as Thousands Left Homeless
(Bloomberg) – The death toll from earthquakes that have struck Turkey and Syria surpassed 25,000 as rescue workers continued the search for survivors and rescue operations were still being reported.
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Tens of thousands were left homeless after much of the quake zone turned to dust. Opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said there was a particular shortage of tents.
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(All times Istanbul, GMT +3)
Around 25,000 Turkish soldiers are taking part in relief efforts (11:30 a.m.)
Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said 25,067 military personnel were involved in relief efforts. Incirlik air base in Adana province has been opened for civilian transport, he said.
Death toll exceeds 25,000 (10:46 a.m.)
The death toll in Turkey and Syria rose to 25,126, according to Turkish officials and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which deploys a network of activists on the ground. Tens of thousands of people are still missing.
The death toll in Turkey surpassed that of the devastating 1999 earthquake near Istanbul, when about 18,000 people died, according to official figures.
The number of people injured in Turkey tops 80,000, the country’s civil protection agency said.
Major Opposition Leader Calls for Tent Donations (10:18 a.m.)
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition party CHP, said there was a shortage of tents for those displaced by the tremors when speaking in quake-hit Malatya province on Saturday.
He urged companies with tent supplies to come forward and promised to buy and distribute them.
Shabby Material Discovered in Some Collapsed Buildings (8:54 am)
Turkish experts found substandard materials and rusting steel in collapsed buildings in Sanliurfa province after an investigation by the Prosecutor General’s Office, news channel NTV reported.
Critics say poor construction and inadequate inspections during construction were among the factors that contributed to the massive devastation.
Miracle Survivor (5:48 AM)
After 122 hours, a 70-year-old woman was evacuated alive from the rubble of an apartment building collapsed by the earthquake in the southeastern Turkish city of Kahramanmaras, state-run Anadolu News Agency said.
Soldier Patrol (5:30 a.m.)
Turkish soldiers have started patrolling streets where banks and jewelry stores are located in Hatay, one of the worst-hit provinces, Fox TV reported.
Turkey Denies Damage to Dams (1:57 am)
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Vahit Kirisci dismissed allegations that the Yarseli Dam in quake-hit Hatay province had been damaged, adding that he would inspect dams in the area on Saturday.
One Million Survivors in Shelters (1:09 am)
More than a million quake survivors have been taken to emergency shelters, said Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay. Almost 200,000 people have been evacuated from the earthquake zone in the west of the country, he said.
Credit card payment rules relaxed (9:24 p.m.)
Turkey’s banking regulator BDDK said the minimum monthly payment quota for credit cards would be reduced to 20% for all those affected in the earthquake zone. The quota to be paid – based on the credit card limit – was up to 40% before the decision was made.
Banks make their own decisions about blocking cards for failure to pay the minimum required amount. You can push card payments back, including minimum amounts.
The decisions are valid until January 1, 2024.
–With the support of Beril Akman.
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