Earthquakes in Turkey: Christians of Antioch Urgently Need Help

Providence Magazine ^ | March 15th, 2023 | Uzay Bulut

[Third Person]

In February, multiple earthquakes hit 10 cities in southern and central regions of Turkey, destroying thousands of homes, killing or otherwise inflicting serious injuries on thousands in addition forcing countless into homelessness.

The Turkish government announced on March 11 that the death toll caused by the earthquakes had reached 47,975. Yet, non-official figures estimate a much higher death toll. Geologist Prof. Dr. Övgün Ahmet Ercan, for instance, predicted on February 7 that the number of people under the rubble was approximately 184,000.

Some of the places worst affected by the earthquakes are in Hatay province and its Antioch (Antakya) district. Many locals of the province said that rescuers or aid were not sent to the city by the government for several days following the first earthquake of February 6.

Tragically, Antioch has been almost completely destroyed, with most of its residents now homeless, living in tents, desperately in need of help. Sadly, widespread corruption in the construction sector has largely increased the death toll resulting from the earthquakes. So many human lives, homes and historical buildings have been destroyed primarily by the earthquakes, but additionally due to corrupt building contractors, engineers, building inspectors, municipalities, and state institutions in Turkey.

[Third Person]

From posted article, estimated direct earthquake deaths at 184K.

At the end of February, AP was reporting that "the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria have killed at least 50,000 people with many more injured, tens of thousands still missing and hundreds of thousands homeless, the U.N. humanitarian chief said Tuesday."

https://apnews.com/article/turkey-syria-earthquakeunited-nations-44c2b736108ccb37130cf64e9e5fa7ca

[Beowulf9]

The news really seems to have completely ignored this. Frankly I was surprised to see this article.

[Third Person]

non story, no money to be made

[lightman]

https://www.antiochian.org/dashboard?name=2023%20relief%20fund

The Archdiocese of North America wired an initial $250,000 to the Patriarchate for use by the Dept. of Ecumenical Relations and Development (GOPA-DERD). The department’s team on the ground in Syria is spending the money on food, clothing, temporary shelter, hygiene kits, diapers, medicine and medical supplies, which they rapidly distributed to earthquake survivors, some of whom are staying in Antiochian churches and halls.

Next, the Archdiocese of North America established an online donation portal at Antiochian.org/earthquake. Please give generously.

​​​​​​​TOTAL DONATIONS AS OF FEB. 24 (ONLINE AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS): MORE THAN $758,000​

[SaveFerris]

[predicted on February 7 that the number of people under the rubble was approximately 184,000.]

Yikes

[SunkenCiv]

• Ancient Antioch Survived Many Disasters in Its 2,400 Years -- Then Turkey's Earthquake Obliterated It
  

  By Jared Malsin and Elvan Kivilcim
  March 3, 2023 9:49 am ET
  Photographs by Ahmed Deeb for The Wall Street Journal

• Turkey's historic city of Antakya, known in Roman and medieval times as Antioch, has been flattened by powerful earthquakes in the past – and rebuilt itself

  Kalpana Jain
  The Conversation
  February 16, 2023 8.26am EST

• Three ancient cities damaged in Turkey-Syria quake

  France24
  February 9, 2023
  [snip] In July 2015, a blast destroyed part of the ramparts that surround a 13th century citadel, while in September 2012, a blaze swept through ancient shops in the city's famous souk, or marketplace, and in April 2013, the minaret of the historic Omayyades mosque collapsed during fierce fighting. [/snip]

• 526 Antioch earthquake

  Wikipedia
  last edited on 19 March 2023, at 09:54 (UTC)

• Earthquake in Antioch in 115 CE

  Jakub Jasinskin
  Imperium Romanum
  September 14, 2020
  also available in: Polish (polski)

[SunkenCiv]

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