Free Republic

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....

Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi Akar criticised a statement by Syria's so-called People's Assembly that claimed Turkey's Hatay province as Syrian territory.Akar’s remarks came during military inspections together with top commanders of navy, ground and air forces in the southern Hatay province.Turkey has dismissed as "meaningless" a statement by Syria's so-called People's Assembly, which claimed the Turkish province of Hatay as belonging to Damascus.“We hear some reckless and meaningless statements about our province of Hatay,” Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Friday.Akar’s remarks came during military inspections together with top commanders of navy, ground and air forces in the southern Hatay...