Earthquake Death Toll in Türkiye Rises above 45,000

A man stand in front of a collapsed building after a powerful earthquake in Adiyaman, Türkiye, 28 February 2023. (EPA)
A man stand in front of a collapsed building after a powerful earthquake in Adiyaman, Türkiye, 28 February 2023. (EPA)
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Earthquake Death Toll in Türkiye Rises above 45,000

A man stand in front of a collapsed building after a powerful earthquake in Adiyaman, Türkiye, 28 February 2023. (EPA)
A man stand in front of a collapsed building after a powerful earthquake in Adiyaman, Türkiye, 28 February 2023. (EPA)

The death toll in Türkiye from last month's devastating earthquake has risen to 45,089, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said on Wednesday, bringing the total toll including Syria to about 51,000.

The earthquake and subsequent powerful tremors injured more than 108,000 in Türkiye and left millions sheltering in tents or seeking to move to other cities.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to rebuild homes within a year but it will be many months before thousands can leave tents or container housing, and daily queues for food, and move into permanent housing.

He is due to give a speech to his ruling AK Party deputies in parliament at 0900 GMT, with the focus on the quake and presidential and parliamentary elections. They are set to be held by June and present the largest political challenge Erdogan has faced in his two-decade rule.

More than 160,000 Turkish buildings containing 520,000 apartments collapsed or were severely damaged in the disaster, the worst in the country's modern history.

Some two million people were registered as having fled the region, which has been hit by more than 11,000 aftershocks since the initial quake, AFAD said in a statement.

It said it had put up more than 350,000 tents, with tent cities established at 332 places across the region. Container housing settlements were being established in 162 places.

On Tuesday, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that it would support Ankara in its response to the quake.

Türkiye is "doing its best" but still needed international support to help victims, Tedros said.



Harris Is Holding Her First Fundraiser as the Likely Democratic Nominee as Donors Open Their Wallets

Democratic presidential candidate and US Vice President Kamala Harris waves before boarding Air Force Two at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, US, July 27, 2024. (Reuters)
Democratic presidential candidate and US Vice President Kamala Harris waves before boarding Air Force Two at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, US, July 27, 2024. (Reuters)
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Harris Is Holding Her First Fundraiser as the Likely Democratic Nominee as Donors Open Their Wallets

Democratic presidential candidate and US Vice President Kamala Harris waves before boarding Air Force Two at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, US, July 27, 2024. (Reuters)
Democratic presidential candidate and US Vice President Kamala Harris waves before boarding Air Force Two at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, US, July 27, 2024. (Reuters)

Vice President Kamala Harris is holding her first fundraiser since becoming the Democrats' likely White House nominee, looking to build on a record week of contributions since President Joe Biden ended his campaign for reelection.

Harris was traveling to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday in anticipation of raising more than $1.4 million, her campaign announced, from an expected audience of about 800 people. That would be $1 million-plus more than the original goal set for the event before Biden dropped out of the race.

Plans called for musician James Taylor to introduce Harris at a fundraiser that was to feature many of the state's Democratic heavyweights, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, former Gov. Deval Patrick, and Rep. Richie Neal.

Harris took in more than $100 million in donations in the first 48 hours after Biden quit the race, a presidential record, and aides said she has continued to raise money at a steady clip.