No one to help rescue teams in Syria’s Idlib after devastating earthquake

IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – So far, Syrian opposition-held areas in northwest Syria have not received support by any party to intensify search operations and extract victims from under the rubbles after earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria on Monday, a source from the Emergency rescue teams in Idlib told North Press on Tuesday.

On Monday at dawn, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey and northern Syria, killing and injuring thousands in both countries.

The death toll of the devastating earthquakes in Syria has reached 1.805 and 3.955 were injured, according to North Press’ Monitoring and Documentation Department.

In Turkey, the deaths have mounted to 3.381 and injuries to 20.426, according the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).

Hundreds are believed to still be trapped under the rubble of thousands of the collapsed buildings in both countries.

24 hours after the earthquake, the situation is still tragic as hundreds of families, including children, are still trapped under the rubble, the source added.

Rescue teams have recovered more than 750 bodies and 1.500 injured from under the rubble, the source noted.

“We do not know when the rescue operation will stop, as more than 500 building collapsed  in various regions of north and west Syria,” the source said.

He further explained that most of the destroyed buildings consist of many floors, as thousands of people live in them. Freeing survivors will require heavy equipment.

The source did not mention any regional or international promises to send support to the affected areas.

The death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue in search for survivors under the rubble of collapsed buildings, the source concluded.

Reporting by Mo’ayed al-Sheikh