Turkey-Syria earthquake: Anger and frustration as search for trapped relatives continues – ‘we’re being left to die’
The people of Antakya are not only desperate, there is real anger here too.
“We are being left to die,” shouted one woman as residents used their bare hands to move rubble and rocks.
We saw others using hammers and pickaxes, any tools they could lay their hands on to try to reach relatives they say are buried below and who may just be alive.
Death toll tops 7,300 – as patients left to die in ‘forgotten’ hospital – latest updates
Another woman, Cagla Ezer, sobbed as she revealed she’d heard her brother calling out for help. She said he was calling out his name and begging for help.
“There were 25 people in that building alone,” she said pointing at a pancaked apartment block. “I tried to call AFAD [Turkey’s emergency co-ordination group] but no one came.”
A short distance away a string of people were crawling through the smashed window of a supermarket door and loading shopping trolleys full of goods.
Many carted food, chocolate bars, ready-made meals and snacks – but we saw one man carrying out a new television.
Others crawled out with big packs of toilet rolls. “We are hungry,” one young man told us, “and no one is helping us”.
It is a common theme here with resident after resident remonstrating with us about what they perceive to be the government’s lack of action here.
The Hatay mayor is from the main opposition party and has been vocally critical of government policies in the past, mentioning in the weeks before the earthquakes that the area was not well enough prepared for a disaster such as this.
Now the residents repeatedly told us they feel abandoned and let down by their government.
One resident who called himself Tahir said he’d travelled non-stop back from Bulgaria to help out with the relief effort.
He was shocked at how little organised emergency work there is in Hatay.
“People here are angry,” he said. “We don’t need words – we need help!”
Women wept next to him out of sadness, grief but also frustration. “They’ll be here soon enough when there’s an election,” one of the men shifting rubble told us.
Read more:
WHO warns death toll could rise to more than 20,000
Volunteers digging with bare hands as shouts heard amid the rubble
Images show scenes before and after disaster
An election has been called by President Erdogan for 14 May in the midst of soaring inflation and global economic woes and is predicted to be one of the closest in years.
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Voices heard from inside buildings
Hatay has a large refugee population and its proximity to Syria has seen many flee over the border to seek refuge here.
There are pockets of poverty everywhere here and many of the buildings are old. “Why weren’t the buildings better constructed?” Tahir asked us. “Why have we put money before life?”
Several fault lines run through Turkey and Syria
There have been glimmers of hope. We saw a small baby being rushed to a waiting ambulance, drip attached and minutes later her mother, neck brace on and moaning softly, also being stretchered to safety.
But those moments have been far outweighed by the heartache of seeing groups burst into tears and howl in grief as body after body is pulled out and laid on top of the rubble which came crashing down on top of them.
Among them have been the very young – children whose lives ended far too early and with brutal abruptness.
Yet even as the region entered its second day after what’s described as Turkey’s worst earthquake disaster in a century, and amid continuing tremors and aftershocks, relatives clung desperately to even the smallest of small hopes that their loved ones may somehow be alive.
Every now and then, a rescuer will call for quiet and the crowd of onlookers, friends and relatives stand silently, their ears aching to hear even the weakest of cries.
“We’ve heard him. Yes, yes, yes, we’ve heard him,” Cagla said of her brother.
But the tears rolling down her cheeks indicated her realisation that while hope is still plentiful, time is very much in short supply.
Sky News’ team included cameraman Jake Britton, specialist producer Chris Cunningham and producer Guldenay Sonumut
Storm Shadow cruise missiles made in the UK and donated to Ukraine have once again been used to strike targets inside Russia.
The long-range weapons – which cost roughly £2m each – have been used to devastating effect in the Black Sea, sinking or damaging several Russian ships, and now against a chemical plant.
Last year, Ukraine’s allies lifted restrictions on Storm Shadows and other long-range missiles, meaning Kyiv’s military can use them against targets across the border.
Follow latest: Storm Shadow missiles used in ‘massive’ attack on Russia
A Storm Shadow missile system. Pic: Gary Dawson/Shutterstock
What are Storm Shadow missiles?
Storm Shadows are cruise missiles developed by the UK and France in the 1990s.
Launched from aircraft, they have a range more than 155 miles, manufacturer MBDA says, and can travel at speeds exceeding 600mph.
The missiles can be used with high precision for deep strikes while evading detection, the manufacturer says.
They have been used by the RAF and French air force and in the Gulf, Iraq and Libya, and more recently have been used by Ukrainian forces.
What sets them apart from some other projectiles is they use terrain mapping to navigate to their target, rather than relying just on GPS, military analyst Sean Bell says.
A Tornado GR4 with Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Pic: Crown copyright
How have they been used in Ukraine?
Back in May 2023, the UK government announced it would provide Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles – the first country to do so.
Since then they have been used by Kyiv’s defenders to strike Russian targets inside Ukraine and also inside Russia.
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While operational details of their use do not always emerge, it has been reported Storm Shadows have been used against targets including military headquarters and ships.
Storm Shadows can likely be operated entirely from within Ukraine, though probably with the assistance of intelligence gathered by Western surveillance planes over international waters.
A police officer has been injured after a night of violent protests outside an asylum hotel in Dublin – with six arrests made.
Bricks were thrown and fireworks were discharged outside the Citywest Hotel – with glass bottles used as missiles and a police van set on fire.
A Garda helicopter was also targeted with lasers, and the police service says some of those on the streets were seen carrying garden forks.
Pic: PA
Pic: PA
Commissioner Justin Kelly added: “This was obviously not a peaceful protest. The actions this evening can only be described as thuggery. This was a mob intent on violence.
“We will now begin the process of identifying those who committed crimes and we will bring those involved in this violence to justice.”
It is the second night of demonstrations after an alleged sexual assault in its vicinity in the early hours of Monday morning.
Some of the crowd threw stones and other missiles at the public order officers as they moved the protesters back – and water cannon was deployed at the scene.
A line of officers was preventing the protesters from approaching the hotel.
Police officers block protesters outside the hotel. Pic: PA
‘Those involved will be brought to justice’
Ireland’s premier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, paid tribute to the officers who were on the frontline of the protests.
“There can be no justification for the vile abuse against them, or the attempted assaults and attacks on members of the force that will shock all right-thinking people,” he said.
Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said those involved in the violence will be brought to justice.
“The scenes of public disorder we have witnessed at Citywest must be condemned,” he said.
“People threw missiles at Gardai, threw fireworks at them and set a Garda vehicle on fire.
“This is unacceptable and will result in a forceful response from the Gardai.
“Those involved will be brought to justice.”
‘No excuse’ for violence
The minister said a man had been arrested and had appeared in court in relation to the alleged assault in the vicinity of the hotel.
He added: “While I am not in a position to comment any further on this criminal investigation, I have been advised that there is no ongoing threat to public safety in the area.”
He said attacks on officers would “not be tolerated”, adding: “Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not.
“There is no excuse for the scenes we have witnessed.”
The demonstration on Monday night passed without a significant incident.
It comes two years after anti-immigrant demonstrators triggered a major riot in the centre of Dublin after three young children were stabbed.
A police van has been set on fire and missiles have been thrown at officers as protesters gathered outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Dublin.
It is the second night of demonstrations outside the Citywest Hotel after an alleged sexual assault in its vicinity in the early hours of Monday morning.
A large crowd has gathered in the area and members of the Garda’s public order unit have been deployed.
Footage from the scene showed a Garda vehicle on fire as well as several protesters displaying Irish flags.
Many protesters carried Republic of Ireland flags
Some of the crowd threw stones and other missiles at the public order officers as they moved the protesters back.
A Garda helicopter hovered overhead and a water cannon was deployed on the scene.
Ireland’s justice minister, Jim O’Callaghan, said those involved will be brought to justice.
“The scenes of public disorder we have witnessed at Citywest tonight must be condemned,” he said.
“People threw missiles at Gardai, threw fireworks at them and set a Garda vehicle on fire.
“This is unacceptable and will result in a forceful response from the Gardai.
“Those involved will be brought to justice.”
The minister said a man had been arrested and had appeared in court in relation to the alleged assault in the vicinity of the hotel.
He added: “While I am not in a position to comment any further on this criminal investigation, I have been advised that there is no ongoing threat to public safety in the area.
He said attacks on gardai will “not be tolerated”, adding: “Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not.
“There is no excuse for the scenes we have witnessed tonight.”
It was the second night of protest outside the hotel, which is being used as state accommodation for people seeking international protection. The demonstration on Monday night passed without a significant incident.
It comes two years after anti-immigrant demonstrators triggered a major riot in the centre of Dublin after three young children were stabbed.
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