Turkish ministers board a helicopter and fly over the areas heavily affected by the earthquakes in Hatay, Turkey.
The footage shows Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar and Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca.
This footage was filmed and produced 7 February 2023.
Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar, who came to Hatay, Turkey, with Chief of General Staff General, Yasar Guler, and Land Forces Commander General, Musa Avsever, follow the search and rescue efforts on site with Minister of Health, Fahrettin Koca, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Fatih Donmez, Tuesday, Feb. 7. Thousands of people died and were injured as a result of a massive earthquake in Turkey the day before.
A statement was obtained on Tuesday from the Turkish Ministry of Defence saying: "After the earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.7 in the Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaras and 7.6 in the Elbistan district, the search and rescue efforts started in 10 provinces, including Hatay, continue. Minister of National Defence Hulusi Akar, who came to Hatay with the Chief of the General Staff, General Yasar Guler, and Ground Forces Commander General Musa Avsever, followed the search and rescue efforts with Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez, right after the earthquake. The Ministers, who went to the city centre and examined the work, received information from the search and rescue teams, then examined the general work from the air by helicopter. Hulusi Akar, Minister of National Defence, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez were accompanied by Hatay Governor Rahmi Dogan."
A second statement from the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of Turkey, obtained on Wednesday, 8th February, saying that nearly 100,000 rescuers, 96,670 from Turkey and 5,309 personnel from other countries have been sent to the disaster area. The statement also said that a total of 5,434 vehicles, including construction equipment, "excavators, tractors, cranes, dozers, trucks, water trucks, and trailers", as well as other vehicles, have been shipped to the disaster zone. The statement continued, saying that "31 governors, more than 70 district governors and 68 provincial directors were assigned to disaster areas. "An air bridge was established to transport personnel and materials from Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir to the region with a total of 122 aircraft affiliated to the Air Force, Ground Forces, Coast Guard and Gendarmerie General Command. A total of 10 ships, nine from the Naval Forces Command and one from the Coast Guard Command, were assigned to the region for personnel, material shipment and evacuation."
The Turkish government is also reportedly making funds available towards rescue operations.Emergency workers are battling against the clock to save people from the rubble, with the international community sending in numerous experts to assist.
The total death toll in Turkey and Syria now exceeds 11,200 people, with the latest figures indicating more than 2,530 people dead in Syria. World Health Organization officials have warned that the total death toll could reach 20,000.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck early on Monday morning in southern Turkey, devastating the south of the country and northern Syria, has been described by Turkish President Erdogan as one of the worst disasters in decades. He is expected to visit the region for the first time, today, Wednesday (8th February).
A second earthquake of 7.6 magnitude hit the same region again at noon Monday, causing even more damage. More than 11,000 buildings have reportedly collapsed in Turkey, with damage and destruction spanning a border region of approximately 650 miles. Volunteer rescue workers in northern Syria have said that they lack the most basic equipment to rescue those trapped under the rubble of their homes.
