Officials grapple with aftermath of Turkey-Syria earthquakes one week on

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230213_35/

Rescue work continues in Turkey and Syria one week after powerful earthquakes devastated the two countries. The death toll has climbed to over 35,000 and Turkish officials are arresting property developers they suspect are responsible for buildings collapsing.

Stories of survival are still coming to light. A girl was pulled out of the rubble alive 155 hours after the first major quake.

About 10,000 people whose homes were destroyed are staying in a park in the city of Kahramanmaras. Volunteers and soldiers are handing out aid, including food, clothes and disposable diapers.

Healthcare workers at a makeshift clinic say they are monitoring sanitary conditions and are wary of the risk of infectious diseases spreading.

A Japanese researcher has used satellite imagery to create a digital map detailing the extent of the damage at more than 100 locations.

It shows that part of the active fault line is now visible near the Turkey-Syria border. The fissure stretches for over 100 kilometers.

A study by the Turkish parliament found that about 6.7 million buildings were not up to seismic code as of 2021.

Authorities have ordered the detention of more than 100 people suspected of being responsible for the collapse of buildings leading to death and injury.

At least two property developers have been arrested at Istanbul Airport as they tried to leave the country.