Live Updates | Earthquake in Turkey and Syria kills thousands

ADANA, Turkey (AP) – The latest on the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated parts of southeastern Turkey and northern Syria early Monday.

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Medical aid organization Doctors Without Borders said a staff member was found dead under the rubble of his home in Syria’s Idlib province after the powerful earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey.

The group says other members of the organization have also lost families.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the impact of this disaster on the thousands of people affected, including our colleagues and their families,” said Sebastien Gay, the group’s head of mission in Syria.

Gay said health facilities in northern Syria are overwhelmed with medical staff working around the clock to respond to the large number of casualties.

The area in Syria devastated by the earthquake is divided into government-held territory and the country’s last opposition-held enclave, which is surrounded by government forces and borders Turkey.

Gay said needs are very high in north-west Syria, where the earthquake has added a dramatic layer for vulnerable people who are still struggling after many years of war. “The massive consequences of this disaster will require an (expanded) international aid effort,” he said.

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KEY DEVELOPMENTS:

— The death toll in Turkey and Syria is expected to rise after the earthquake brought down thousands of buildings.

— Rescuers worked to pull more survivors from the rubble as cold, snowy conditions shorten the time it takes to save lives.

— The earthquake has wreaked new havoc and suffering in Syria’s last rebel-held enclave after years of fighting and bombing.

— Dozens of countries are sending experts and aid workers to help rescue efforts.

— Interesting facts about the science behind the powerful quake and its aftershocks.

– Soccer player Christian Atsu is missing and believed to be trapped under rubble.

– A look at some of the deadliest earthquakes in the world since 2000.

— For more AP coverage of the earthquake, visit https://apnews.com/hub/earthquakes

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India and South Korea are among nations sending rescue workers and supplies after a devastating earthquake struck Turkey and northern Syria.

India said it would send 100 members of its Natural Disaster Response Force, specially trained canine squads and equipment to Turkey. Medical teams with trained doctors, paramedics and essential medicines are also ready, the State Department said in a statement.

South Korea will send a 60-strong search and rescue team and will also send medical supplies.

Announcing the plan on Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol described Turkey as a “brother nation” that sent troops to fight alongside South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War. Turkey lost more than 700 of its armed forces in action.

Jeon Ha Gyu, spokesman for South Korea’s Defense Ministry, said the ministry is arranging plans with related agencies to mobilize military aircraft to transport rescue workers and supplies.

“It is an obvious decision to help our brother country Turkey deal with this pain and difficulty,” Yoon said during a cabinet meeting. “An incident involving such enormous losses is more than just a disaster of a particular nation and should be regarded as an international disaster, and the international society should fully assume its duty and responsibility.”

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War-ravaged Syria is calling on the United Nations and all member states to help with rescue efforts, health services, shelter and food aid following a massive earthquake that killed thousands in Syria and Turkey.

The area in Syria devastated by the earthquake is divided into government-held territory and the country’s last opposition-held enclave, which is surrounded by government forces and borders Turkey.

Syria’s Ambassador to the UN, Bassam Sabbagh, told reporters that the UN Secretary-General had “assured us that the UN will do everything in its power to help Syria in this very difficult situation.” Sabbagh said he delivered a letter to Guterres from the country’s foreign minister asking for help.

Sabbagh was asked if Syria would agree to allow the UN to deliver aid through other border crossings out of Turkey, if feasible. He did not respond directly, but said the government stands ready to help and coordinate aid shipments “to all Syrians in all areas of Syria.”

The rebel-held area depended on a flow of aid from nearby Turkey for anything from food to medical supplies.

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President Joe Biden called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday to offer his condolences. The White House said in a statement that Biden had “underscored the United States’ willingness to provide any and all assistance needed to its NATO ally Turkey.”

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the Biden administration is deploying two 79-strong urban search and rescue teams to support Turkey’s efforts.

Biden and Erdogan discussed other assistance that earthquake victims may need, including health services or basic supplies, according to the White House.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a seven-day national mourning after the deadly earthquakes that hit the country on Monday. Turkish flags will fly at half-mast across the country and at its overseas diplomatic missions.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said at least 1,651 people had died and 11,119 were injured in ten provinces. Hundreds more deaths were reported in neighboring Syria.

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The Roman Catholic official in charge of church properties in the Middle East offers food and shelter to victims of Monday’s earthquake.

Rev. Francesco Patton, the Jerusalem-based custodian of the Holy Land, says he will open all church buildings in northern Syria to offer shelter to families who have lost their homes.

His office, the Custodia Terrae Sanctae, says the properties can house hundreds of people and provide food and medical care to thousands.

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Diplomats from the 193 member countries of the United Nations paid tribute to the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

The President of the General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi, expressed “our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences” to the government and people of both countries on Monday.

He then urged diplomats to “stand up and observe a minute’s silence in memory of those who lost their lives.” Kőrösi spoke at the start of a meeting to hear General Secretary Antonio Guterres outline his priorities for 2023.

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Turkey’s Vice President Fuat Oktay said such a disaster could happen “once in a hundred years” and his country should be prepared for the death toll to rise.

Oktay also said that after the deadly quake, about 145 aftershocks were recorded overnight, three of which were greater than 6.0 magnitude.

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Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the European Union was ready to offer its support to Turkey as well. Sweden currently holds the rotating EU Council Presidency.

Turkey’s Disaster Management Agency President Yunus Sezer said more than 40 countries have offered assistance so far.

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Turkey’s education minister said schools in the country’s 81 provinces were closed until February 13 after the deadly earthquake.

Schools were closed for a two-week holiday and were due to open on Monday but had remained closed in some cities due to snowstorms.

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Britain is sending 76 search and rescue specialists with equipment and dogs to Turkey, along with an emergency medical team.

The UK government said the teams, due later on Monday, would bring equipment including seismic listening devices, concrete cutting and breaking equipment, shoring and support tools.

British Ambassador-designate Jill Morris said: “The British Embassy in Ankara is in close contact with the Turkish authorities to understand how we can best support local people.”

The UK also says it is in contact with the UN to get support for victims in Syria.

A number of other countries joined the growing international relief effort, including the United Arab Emirates, which will set up a field hospital in Turkey, and Qatar, which sent rescuers and supplies.

Romania, Spain and Poland joined the European Union’s efforts, sending rescuers, paramedics, dogs and special equipment. ___ While the bulk of international aid has been destined for Turkey, Russia said it also plans to send aid directly to its close ally Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Syrian President Bashar Assad in a phone call that Moscow would provide urgent assistance and send rescue workers to help the earthquake-hit country. The Russian military in Syria has deployed 10 units with 300 people who have started clearing the rubble and searching for survivors, the Russian Defense Ministry said. ___ Soccer star Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Liverpool has expressed condolences to Syrians and Turks following Monday’s devastating earthquake.

The striker wrote on Twitter: “Terrible news is coming out of Syria and Turkey. My condolences for the lives lost and I wish all those injured a full recovery.” ___ The World Health Organization says it supports a massive international effort to help Turkey and Syria deal with the devastating earthquake damage and is in contact with Turkish authorities .

Hans Kluge, head of WHO in Europe, said on Monday that regional offices of the United Nations organization in the Eastern Mediterranean are supporting growing international efforts to quickly transport medicines and supplies to the earthquake-hit areas.

Kluge wrote in a tweet: “Amid the devastation caused by today’s earthquake in Turkey – a WHO Europe member state – and Syria, our deepest condolences to all affected communities.”

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Japan’s foreign ministry says the country is dispatching a squad of about 75 rescue workers to Turkey to help with search and rescue operations.

An advance team of 18 people, including officials from the ministry, police, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, the Japan Coast Guard and Japan’s International Cooperation Agency, is scheduled to leave later Monday to set up their operation.

The ministry said Japan is dispatching the team as part of its emergency humanitarian assistance at the request of the Turkish government and based on humanitarian considerations and Japan’s friendship with Turkey.

Separately, Swiss rescue dog service REDOG said it was preparing to send 22 rescuers with 14 dogs to Turkey’s earthquake region.

The Associated Press

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