More than 46,000 people have been killed in the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria and the toll is expected to rise, with 264,000 apartments destroyed in Turkey and many still missing as rescuers listen for signs of life under the rubble. The World Food Programme (WFP) is pressing authorities in northwest Syria to stop blocking access to the area as they seek to help hundreds of thousands of people affected by the quake. In Antakya city in southern Turkey, a family of five was rescued alive from the rubble, but one child passed away from dehydration. Ten ambulances were waiting nearby as rescue teams searched for more survivors.
The death toll in Turkey stands at 40,642 and in Syria it is 5,800. WFP Director David Beasley said that Syrian and Turkish governments have been cooperating, but there are difficulties with cross-line operations in northwest Syria, where the authorities are not providing the access needed. Beasley also noted that the agency is running out of stocks and money, and unless Europe provides more support, there could be a new wave of refugees.
Thousands of Syrians who had fled to Turkey from the civil war have returned to their homes in the war zone, raising concerns about the spread of infection in the area. Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said that there has been a rise in intestinal and upper respiratory infections, but the numbers do not pose a serious threat to public health.
International rescue teams have left the quake zone, but domestic teams are still searching through flattened buildings. Aid organizations say the survivors will need help for months to come. Anger is growing among families waiting to retrieve relatives, as they see corrupt building practices and deeply flawed urban development resulting in thousands of homes and businesses collapsing. Turkey has promised to investigate anyone suspected of responsibility for the collapses and has detained over 100 suspects, including developers.