The Turkish government declared a three-month state of emergency on Tuesday in the 10 provinces affected by the strong earthquakes on Monday, which have already caused at least 3,549 deaths and 22,000 injuries in the country.
The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also announced the creation of a fund of 5,000 million euros, destined for emergency aid for those regions.
Erdogan explained that the two quakes, measuring 7.7 and 7.6, as well as numerous smaller aftershocks, are part of a phenomenon called “triggering,” in which one earthquake triggers a subsequent earthquake.
The head of state had already said, on Monday, that these earthquakes represent the greatest calamity suffered by the country since the 1939 earthquake in Erzincan, in eastern Turkey, which killed more than 32,000 people and caused a tsunami. in the Black Sea.
The President regretted that the hundreds of aftershocks, some of magnitude 6, are making it difficult to rescue survivors, but he announced that some 8,000 people have already been found alive.
Erdogan confirmed that all schools in the country will be closed until February 13 and in the most affected areas the closure will be extended until February 20.
The Turkish president said around 50,000 people are taking part in the rescue efforts under the rubble of thousands of collapsed buildings.
In addition, 10 Navy ships and 26 military aircraft are collaborating in evacuation tasks from the affected areas.
Erdogan thanked the material and human help sent by 70 countries and 14 international organizations.
Source: TSF
