The official death toll in the Turkish-Syrian earthquake exceeded 53,000

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Officially, the death toll from the February 6 earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş, which caused devastation in both Turkey and Syria, has reached 53,000. There are 45,089 confirmed deaths in Turkey and 8,476 in Syria.

An aerial photo shows collapsed buildings and destruction in Hatay, Turkey, on February 7. [AP Photo/IHA]

The actual number of those killed is believed to be much higher, including those who were not pulled from the rubble, those who were not identified, and unregistered refugees. A Turkish official in charge of the affected region admitted that the true number of deaths could reach 150,000 or more in Turkey alone.

According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks yesterday, 3.5 million people have emigrated from the region. He said 214,000 buildings in the area had been identified as “collapsed, and urgently for demolition or significant damage.” This statement in itself is an indictment of both the national government and the local authorities. For years they allowed millions of people to live in unsafe buildings despite all scientific warnings that such an earthquake was expected, even imminent.

The clear responsibility of all factions of the ruling class, especially the Erdoğan government, for this preventable social catastrophe has created enormous anger along with grief for the many people who lost their lives. Despite the warnings, no earthquake preparations were made. The fact that search and rescue operations began as early as the third day after the earthquake increased the loss of life.

The government focused more on covering up its criminality than on search and rescue and relief efforts for earthquake victims, and prematurely began work to clear the wreckage. Nearly one month after the earthquake, the basic needs of the residents of the area, such as shelter and sanitation, are still not fully met. This is underlined by the revelations that the Turkish Red Crescent, a state-sponsored relief organization, sold tents, food and clothing for commercial purposes after the earthquake.

Meanwhile, the government is trying to quell growing social opposition ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections expected in May, even as the cost of living continues to rise.

Thousands of football fans chanted “the government resigns” during major matches in Istanbul last weekend. Interior Minister Suleiman Soylu threatened the fans with stadium slogans. He said, “Let them not interrupt our work… Let me see if you can!”

Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the fascist Nationalist Movement Party, an ally of President Erdogan, also called for sports matches to be held without an audience.

Turkey’s ruling parties, fearing growing public anger over the state’s responsibility for the earthquake disaster, are trying to silence the public with police repression. Fenerbahçe football fans were banned from attending the match this week. In addition, fans who chanted anti-government slogans during matches over the weekend have been banned from stadiums “for life” and must now log in at the police station during match hours.

The government, which had not mobilized civilian and military forces for a long time after the earthquake, began targeting groups organizing relief efforts in the quake zone. Last week, the Hatay Governor’s Office tried to evacuate the solidarity centers of various political parties and the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) in Defne district.

The police attacked the demonstration of the People’s Assembly (Halkifleri), and arrested eight. The office of the Turkish Workers’ Party (TİP) in Kadikoy, Istanbul, has also been blocked by the police, and party members have been banned from loading aid trucks. The police attacked a demonstration organized by the Left Party and arrested more than 70 people. Members of the Turkish Communist Party were also detained in Osmaniye.

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At the same time, Erdogan is trying to quell public anger at the apparent bankruptcy of his government’s response to the earthquake disaster. “Unfortunately, we were not able to work in Adiyaman in the first few days as effectively as we had hoped. We could not come on the first day because of weather and road conditions,” Erdogan said on Monday, speaking from the quake-hit province of Adiyaman.

And he added, “That is why I ask for your blessings in the first few days. We are aware of everything and no one should doubt that we have done and will do what is necessary.”

After Erdogan asked for “blessings”, thousands of people rejected his demand on social media. After leaving the earthquake zone, he told a meeting of the Justice and Development Party to which he belongs: “Seeking blessings is not a sign of our weakness, but a sign of sincerity between us and our nation.”

Erdogan and all authorities continue to deny responsibility for this historic disaster. Once again ignoring the scientists’ warnings, the government is rushing to fulfill its promise to build hundreds of thousands of buildings in the affected area within a year. “We have started building new living spaces,” Erdogan announced yesterday, while experts warned that no new buildings should be built while the aftershocks continue.

According to recent statements, there have been about 12,000 aftershocks in the region since February 6, and these aftershocks may continue for more than a year. Experts say that reinforced concrete buildings should not be built because of the constant aftershocks.

Speaking to Sputnik Turkey, Cemal Gökçe, a board member of the Earthquake Foundation and former president of the Chamber of Civil Engineers, said, “The aftershocks continue… It is a mistake to start construction immediately. To make such a decision in terms of pleasing people means to invite a new catastrophe “.

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