Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Death toll from earthquakes in Turkey and Syria could double, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator says

Two Spartan military transport aircraft flew the Bulgarian rescuers home last night, another team was flown out to replace them
Photo: Defence Ministry press service

The current death toll from the massive earthquakes in Turkey and Syria could double from its current level, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths stated. The official death toll in the two countries currently stands 28,191. According to the UN, no less than 870,000 people are in need of warm food. 5.3 million people could be left without a roof over their heads in Syria alone. 32,000 staff from Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority and 8,294 rescuers from abroad are taking part in the rescue operations.

Two Spartan military transport aircraft flew the Bulgarian Red Cross mountain rescuers and Sofia municipality emergency rescuers home last night, alongside the trained dogs, after taking part in the rescue operations in different towns in Turkey. Another team was flown out from Sofia to replace them.

Unrest in southern Turkey has disrupted rescue efforts in some places following Monday's deadly earthquake, three rescue groups have said, the BBC reports. German rescuers and the Austrian army paused search operations on Saturday, citing clashes between unnamed groups.

Sofia municipality has set up 7 drop-off locations for donations for the victims of the earthquakes in Turkey, open 9 AM-6 PM, at some of the most popular marketplaces in Sofia. The chairman of the Sofia City Council Georgi Georgiev said in an interview with the BNR, that the items needed most are cold weather tents, blankets, generators, gas heaters and winter clothing. As of Monday, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria is also setting up donation spots at its offices throughout the country.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Romania has asked to join the construction of Corridor 8, PM Glavchev says

Attempts to enter the country illegally have fallen by 70% compared to 2023 , caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev said in Brussels ahead of the European Council. Asked by BNR whether talks were underway with Turkey on the establishment of an..

published on 10/17/24 1:56 PM

Council for Electronic Media re-elects Milen Mitev as Director General of BNR

The Council for Electronic Media (CEM) re-elected Bulgarian National Radio Director General Milen Mitev to a second term of three years. He got the votes of three out of the five members of CEM – the commission’s chairperson Gabriela..

published on 10/17/24 12:23 PM
MEP Tomáš Zdechovský

Czech MEP: The vote for Bulgarian Commission-designate is not certain

According to Czech MEP from the European People's Party (EPP) Tomáš Zdechovský, the vote for Bulgarian Commissioner-designate Ekaterina Zaharieva is not guaranteed.  "The problem is that many of our colleagues from the Socialists and the Liberals..

published on 10/17/24 11:22 AM