Weeping children, flattened buildings and hospitals full of BODIES – Monday’s devastating earthquake sounded painfully familiar for Syrian families and rescue workers are worn out down By nearly 12 years of Bombing and displacement.
He sent the earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.7 people Rush to the streets in Country northwhere air Strikes and bombing already I was shocked population The weakest of foundations of many buildings.
In the rebel-held city of Jandaris in Aleppo Governorate Tel of Rods and beams of concrete and steel of Where clothes lie multi-storey building I once stood.
“There were 12 families there. Not one one came out. No one said thin young his man eyes Wide open in Shock and his hand covered.
“We were pulling people out ourselves in the third in In the morning,” he said, his breath visible in cold winter air like he said.
young man men They can be seen cutting through the wreckage and hammers flying off the boards of tangible to consider for survivors. The dented water tanks and solar panels were blown off off Bishop and landed on wet ground.
783 at least people Hundreds were killed and wounded, according to data collected by the Syrian regime’s Ministry of Health and the Syrian Civil Defense.
the state-run Sana’a news At least 403, the agency said, citing the Ministry of Health people Another 1,284 were killed and wounded, while the Syrian Civil Defense said about 380 people were killed and more More than 1,000 other wounded in areas under opposition control in Northwestern Syria.
Toll reported by state media It is believed that it includes only those who live in governmentportable areas.
In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said more from 900 people were killed and more than 5,000 wounded.
“we in a race against It’s time to save lives of Under the rubble. Even if we have teams Exhausted, we don’t have time to rest,” the White Helmets head Raed Fares told Reuters by phone.
He said air strikes over years were left Structurally fragile so it “crumbled instantly” eventually leading to more Death cases.
Temporary freeze
Millions of people in Northwestern Syria left Vulnerable to conflict, according to the United Nations, which says 2.9 million people in the region They have been displaced and 1.8 million people live in camps.
Rescue teams I worked for Rescue years people From shelling and air strikes by the Syrian forces government Or Russian forces that often hit The same location several timesrisking the paramedics’ lives.
“At least now, no one will bomb us As we work Knight said.
But cold winter weather added last challenge for rescue workers, who He said it was families left exposed to in Sub-freezing temperatures and heavy rain.
In the countryside of Idlib Governorate, the earthquake destroyed modest buildings set up in Displacement camps hosting Syrians who They fled the war over Ahmed Sheikh said inhabitant years of Nearby border town.
Further west, and main hospital in Rebel-held city of Afrin was bustling with Wounded population writhing on Earth and women struggling To reach loved ones over the phone as it were free down.
Compressed medics up black body bags on Bloodstained floor The children also screamed in the background.
“Ambulance sirens are heard everywhere. People are shocked,” said Ibrahim Obaid, a resident of Afrin. “The situation is very tragic. There is a lot of fear and we are still feeling tremors.”
