Advertisement
Turkey-Syria earthquake: WHO chief warns of race against time as China joins international rescue efforts
- As the death toll passed 5,000, rescue teams continued their frantic efforts to find survivors in near-freezing conditions along the border
- Beijing is sending emergency personnel and has promised US$5.9 million in aid for Turkey, while it is also talking to Syria about its requirements
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
6
The death toll for the earthquake on the Turkish-Syrian border passed 5,000 on Tuesday as the World Health Organization chief warned that rescuers faced a “race against time” to find survivors.
Advertisement
Dozens of countries have offered aid to both countries, including China, which said it would send 40 million yuan (US$5.9 million) along with rescuers to Turkey and was in talks with Syria about what help it could provide.
Mao Ning, a foreign ministry spokeswoman, told a regular press briefing that Chinese rescuers are already on their way as part of the first tranche of aid to Turkey.
The 7.8 magnitude quake on Monday morning brought down whole buildings, killing people in their sleep and piling more devastation on millions of Syrians displaced by years of war.
Less than 12 hours later, another 7.5 quake hit southeastern Turkey, followed by a series of aftershocks.
Advertisement
A frantic search was under way on Tuesday to find survivors amid near-freezing weather conditions as a series of aftershocks jolted the region, endangering rescuers struggling to save those trapped under the rubble.
Advertisement