Turkey-Syria earthquake: ‘hope and despair’ in rescue effort

The ‘heartbreaking’ aftermath of one of the deadliest earthquakes of the 21st century

Survivors continue to be pulled from the rubble across southern Turkey and northern Syria after Monday’s earthquakes and aftershocks.

The “frantic rescue effort” continued through the night and into a third day following “one of the region’s worst disasters in decades”, said the Financial Times (FT).

The death toll has risen to more than 11,000 and is expected to increase significantly as more victims are found.

“More than 10,000 people are involved in rescue operations,” said the FT, “but freezing weather conditions, snow and damaged infrastructure have made it challenging to transport heavy machinery, personnel and aid.”

The 7.8-magnitude quake is “already one of the deadliest of the 21st century”, but “glimmers of hope” have “punctuated the despair”, said The Washington Post.

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Hollie Clemence is the UK executive editor. She joined the team in 2011 and spent six years as news editor for the site, during which time the country had three general elections, a Brexit referendum, a Covid pandemic and a new generation of British royals. Before that, she was a reporter for IHS Jane’s Police Review, and travelled the country interviewing police chiefs, politicians and rank-and-file officers, occasionally from the back of a helicopter or police van. She has a master’s in magazine journalism from City University, London, and has written for publications and websites including TheTimes.co.uk and Police Oracle.