Volunteers struggling to find ever fewer survivors in the quake-hit Turkish city of Antakya said on Saturday ransacking and hygiene problems were adding to their daunting task.
One resident, searching for a colleague buried in a collapsed building, said he witnessed looting in the first days after Monday's quake before leaving the city for a village.
German aid organizations suspended rescue operations in the quake region on Saturday, citing security problems and reports of clashes between groups of people and gunfire. "We cannot intervene much as most of the looters carry knives. They caught a looter today, people chased after him," she said in the city where there was a heavy police and military presence directing traffic, helping rescuers and handing out food.
"If people don't die here under the rubble, they'll die from injuries, if not they will die from infection. There is no toilet here. It is a big problem," she said, adding that there were not enough body bags for all the dead.Townsfolk were wearing masks to cover the smell of death.There were long lines at temporary mobile toilets but many people said they were simply finding a hidden spot, leading to complaints about stench.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Turkish woman rescued from quake rubble after over 100 hoursA Turkish woman was rescued Friday after spending more than 100 hours trapped in the rubble of her earthquake-hit home underneath her husband’s dead body, a German non-profit organisation said.
Read more »
Stay or go: Turkish quake leaves few options for survivorsEyes red, features drawn, Fidan Turan looks lost as she stands in the middle of the street, wondering whether she should leave her devastated Turkish city or stay through its post-quake recovery.
Read more »
2 Pinoys killed in 7.8 quake in TurkeyTwo Filipinos died in the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on Feb. 6, the Philippine Embassy in Ankara disclosed. READ:
Read more »
Marcos mourns death of 2 Pinoys in Turkey quakePresident Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Friday mourned the death of two Filipinos in Turkey following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck the said country and Syria.
Read more »
2 Filipinos confirmed dead in Turkey quakeTHE Philippine Embassy in Ankara, Turkey on Friday confirmed that the two Filipinos who were reported to have been missing were found among the dead in the magnitude 7.8 earthquake...
Read more »
Hope fades for survivors as Turkey-Syria earthquake toll passes 20,000The rescue of a 2-year-old boy after 79 hours trapped in the rubble of a collapsed building in Hatay, Turkey, and several other people raised spirits among weary search crews.
Read more »