Deadly earthquake in Syria and Türkiye

On the night of Monday 6 February, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the border area between Türkiye and Syria. The region, which straddles three tectonic plates, is used to this kind of phenomenon. The death toll has risen steadily, reaching a total of 17,000 on Thursday 9 February, including around 3,000 victims in Syria.

Since Tuesday, the relief efforts on the ground have been assisted by international reinforcements, but the crucial 72 hours to find survivors are coming to an end. The slow response of the Turkish authorities has been strongly criticised. In Syria, the pain is twofold, as the disaster has affected partly rebel regions, already ostracised by the government and dependent on humanitarian aid.

Find all the archives of our weekly editorials here!