"Race against time" Turkey earthquake has killed more than 7,800 people

　　China News Service, February 8th reported that the number of victims of strong earthquakes in Turkey and Syria is still rising, and more than 7,800 people have died so far.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on the 7th that the 10 provinces affected by the earthquake will implement a three-month state of emergency.

　　At the same time, the rescue is still in progress against the clock.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, emphasized: "It is a race against time."

On February 7, local time, in Al Atareb, Syria, rescuers rescued a trapped person.

"It's a race against time"

23 million people may be affected by the earthquake

　　According to the latest news from Agence France-Presse, Turkish Vice President Oktay said that the earthquake in Turkey has killed 5,894 people and injured 34,810 in the country.

In Syria, at least 1,932 people were killed.

　　Turkish President Erdogan announced on the 7th that the 10 provinces affected by the earthquake will implement a three-month state of emergency to ensure that search and rescue operations and earthquake-related research can be carried out quickly.

Erdogan also said that Turkey plans to open hotels in Antalya, the tourist center in the west, to temporarily accommodate victims of the disaster.

　　As many as 23 million people could be affected by the quake, including about 5 million vulnerable people, WHO's senior emergency official Marshan warned.

Mashan also said, "The infrastructure of people's livelihood has been damaged in various parts of the disaster area, and may also include medical infrastructure, mainly in Turkey and northwestern Syria."

　　In addition to the damage to the old city of Aleppo and the fortress in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, at least three other World Heritage sites may be affected, Unesco said.

The organization is ready to help.

　　WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized: "It is a race against time. Every minute, every hour that passes, the chances of finding survivors are decreasing." He added: "We have activated the WHO Emergency A network of medical teams to provide basic health care to the injured and most vulnerable."

　　Tedros said that WHO "will work closely with all partners to provide assistance during the critical hours and days ahead, and to support the recovery and reconstruction of the governments of Turkey and Syria in the coming months and years."

The picture shows local time on February 7, in Gaziantep, Turkey, rescuers search for survivors among the rubble.

"Hold on! Don't sleep"

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　　In the earthquake-stricken area, rescue workers worked around the clock amidst piles of rubble.

In the quake-ravaged town of Jandalis in northern Syria, some residents even searched for survivors with their bare hands.

They prayed that friends, relatives and neighbors might still be alive.

　　"My whole family is down there - my son, my daughter, my son-in-law..." said Batar, who is in his 60s, his face covered in blood and a woolen shawl wrapped around his head to keep out the cold.

"I heard their voices. I know they're alive, but they haven't been rescued yet."

　　Destroyed roads, bad weather and a lack of resources and heavy equipment have made it difficult for rescuers to reach some of the hardest-hit areas, and in some cases there is a severe shortage of fuel and electricity.

　　Ali Fahi, spokesman for the UN's UNRWA agency for Palestine refugees, said "we can expect the death toll to continue to increase" and said medical supplies, mattresses, blankets and hygiene items were urgently needed.

　　Turkish Health Minister Koja also said on the evening of the 7th that the current weather conditions are extremely bad, and rescuers can hardly reach more disaster-stricken areas, but at the same time he emphasized that rescuers are still racing against time to search for survivors.

　　"Don't sleep, talk to us, I will buy you chocolates." In order to encourage the children trapped in the rubble to persevere, the Turkish rescuers promised to buy him chocolates as a reward.

　　In the Syrian city of Azaz, rescuers rescued a one-and-a-half-year-old girl, Ismail, from the rubble.

On the day of his rescue, Ismail ate bread under a blanket in the severe winter.

Most of her family, including her mother, were tragically killed.

　　In another ruin in northern Syria, a newborn was rescued with her umbilical cord still attached to her mother, who was killed in the quake.

Relatives of the newborn baby told AFP: "We were digging and we heard a sound. We cleaned up the dust and found the baby's umbilical cord (intact), so we cut it and my cousin took her to the hospital."

On February 6, local time, in Gaziantep, Turkey, people spontaneously participated in rescue operations after the earthquake. They carried rubble with their bare hands among the collapsed ruins, looking for trapped survivors.

Multinational assistance

Search and rescue team rushed to the disaster area

　　At present, many countries and regions have promised to send search and rescue teams to Turkey and Syria to carry out rescue operations.

　　Deng Qingbo, deputy director of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, said in an interview with the media on the 7th that the Chinese government immediately activated the emergency humanitarian assistance mechanism and decided to provide emergency assistance to Turkey and Syria.

In addition, several Chinese rescue teams carried multiple search and rescue dogs and professional rescue equipment to the earthquake-stricken areas of Turkey to carry out international rescue.

　　Two search and rescue teams from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will arrive in Turkey on the morning of the 8th and start key search and rescue work in the city of Adiyaman Province in southeastern Turkey.

　　Martenov, adviser to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, said on the 7th that Russian rescuers who have arrived in Turkey will work around the clock.

He pointed out that the Russian Air Mobility Group is composed of more than 100 international-level rescuers, all of whom have "extensive experience working in various parts of the world."

　　The Ukrainian government also announced a few days ago that a team of 87 people will be sent to Turkey to assist in disaster relief.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said that he has spoken to Turkish President Erdogan and expressed his deep condolences for the tragedy that the earthquake has brought to the Turkish people.