Saturday, June 7, 2025

Popular News

HomeNewsAsiaFears of disease as earthquake cleanup continues, building codes questioned.

Fears of disease as earthquake cleanup continues, building codes questioned.

The death toll in the deadly earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria tops 41,000, with millions left without a shelter in both nations. Meanwhile Turkish authorities are focusing on shoddy building practices which are being blamed for exacerbating the destruction.

By Nathan Morley

Across northern Syria and southern Turkey, millions are homeless, and temperatures continue to drop below freezing after sundown.

The Turkish Medical Association has already warned about infectious diseases saying damage to infrastructure such as water, electricity and sewerage increases the risk of water- and food-borne diseases.

The UN said the earthquake in Syria displaced 5.3 million people. Meanwhile, in Turkey heated discussions about the quality of many structures continue to dominate headlines.

Collapsed buildings in Hatay, Turkey

Collapsed buildings in Hatay, Turkey

At least 6,200 buildings were destroyed in Turkey – including many high-rise structures which fell like a deck of cards. Since the weekend, questions have been raised about if the tragedy could have been avoided and whether President Erdogan’s government could have done more to save lives.

According to some reports, over half of the buildings in Turkey have been constructed in violation of the current building code. Observers had previously warned that many new buildings were unsafe due to corruption.

Prosecutors have started to collect samples of buildings for evidence on materials used in construction.

Listen to the report by Nathan Morley

Search operations continue in Hatay, Turkey

Search operations continue in Hatay, Turkey

Popular News

Southeast Asian leaders appeal for ceasefire and dialogue in Myanmar

Amid ongoing suffering and conflict in Myanmar, leaders of Southeast Asian countries gathered for...

Moscow Auxiliary Bishop: Church in Russia ‘struck by Pope’s push for peace’

Bishop Nicolai Gennadevich Dubinin, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God...

Church in Seoul hosts major youth festival as preview to World Youth Day 2027

More than 30,000 people took part in the “Hee Hee Hee” Youth Festival in...

2 years of war in Sudan: World’s worst humanitarian crisis

Caritas and other organizations release a statement challenging the international community to take action...