HATAY, Turkey/DAMASCUS -- The screams of people still trapped in the rubble filled the night early on Tuesday and relatives wept for their loved ones as the death toll in Turkey and in neighbouring northwest Syria rose to more than 3,700. The magnitude 7.8 quake rippled through both countries early on Monday, toppling entire apartment blocks, wrecking hospitals, and leaving thousands more people injured or homeless. Freezing winter weather hampered search efforts for survivors through the night into Tuesday. A man stands in front of a collapsed building after an earthquake in Osmaniye, Turkey February 6, 2023. Photo: Reuters Under a pile of rubble in the southern province of Hatay, a woman's voice could be heard calling for help. Nearby, the body of a small child lay lifeless. Weeping in the rain, a local resident who gave his name as Deniz wrung his hands in despair. "They're making noises but nobody is coming," he said. "We're devastated, we're devastated. … [Read more...] about In Turkey, night fills with screams and crying as earthquake rescues go on
Norton womens and childrens hospital
Thai protesters weak after three weeks on hunger strike
Two Thai protesters held under the kingdom's tough royal insult laws are growing extremely weak after nearly three weeks on hunger strike, a hospital statement said Monday. Tantawan Tuatulanon and Orawan Phupong have refused food and most liquids for the past 20 days to urge political parties to support the abolition of Thailand's lese majeste laws, as well as other justice reforms. King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family are protected by some of the world's strictest royal defamation laws, with each charge carrying a possible 15-year jail term, but rights groups say they are misused to suppress public debate. Tantawan, 21, and Orawan, 23, were still conscious but weak, Thammasat University Hospital said in a statement posted on Facebook early on Monday. "Key organs such as the kidneys are starting to work more slowly," Paruhat Tor-udom, the hospital director, told reporters on Monday. "They can communicate with doctors and visitors, and while their condition is getting … [Read more...] about Thai protesters weak after three weeks on hunger strike
Earthquake kills more than 4,300 in Turkey, Syria
The confirmed death toll across the two countries has soared above 4,300 after a swarm of strong tremors near the Turkey-Syria border -- the largest of which measured at a massive 7.8-magnitude. Turkish and Syrian disaster response teams report more than 5,600 buildings have been flattened across several cities, including many multi-storey apartment blocks that were filled with sleeping residents when the first quake struck. In the city of Kahramanmaras in southeastern Turkey, eyewitnesses struggled to comprehend the scale of the disaster. "We thought it was the apocalypse," said Melisa Salman, a 23-year-old reporter. "That was the first time we have ever experienced anything like that." Turkey's relief agency AFAD on Tuesday said there were now 2,921 deaths in that country alone, bringing the confirmed tally to 4,365. There are fears that toll will rise inexorably, with World Health Organization officials estimating up to 20,000 may have died. In Gaziantep, a Turkish city … [Read more...] about Earthquake kills more than 4,300 in Turkey, Syria
Thailand installs PM2.5 filtration machines in capital city
Illustrative image (Photo: Pattayamail) Bangkok (VNA) – The Royal Thai Navy recently installed 13 PM2.5 filtration machines around Bangkok capital city to lower the level of fine dust in the air to a safe level. PM2.5 – airborne particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter – can cause health risks, especially for young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with chronic lung disease. Thailand’s safety level for PM2.5 is 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air (μg/m3). The navy said the machines, built at its Naval Dockyard Department, are based on the prototype developed by Rajaprajanugroh Foundation and were placed in 13 areas of the city that reported high levels of air pollution over the past few days. Each machine can filter five cubic metres of air per second, the navy said. Lab results show that each machine can lower the PM2.5 level in an area of 144 cubic metres to below 50 μg/m3 in 30 minutes. They can also filter most germs, bacteria and … [Read more...] about Thailand installs PM2.5 filtration machines in capital city