Search dogs from different organisations have been dispatched in earthquake-ravaged Turkey/Syria to help find those who are victims of the disaster. The search dogs will help find those still alive under the rubble and those killed due to the earthquake. Turkey's earthquake death toll has increased to thousands, and many people are yet to be found.
Reports show that the search dogs will only be released in one country or two. Several countries have made pledges to the affected countries to help find and reduce the effects of the horrible earthquake. The earthquake which hit Turkey/Syria was a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that destroyed many lives and properties.
What Caused the Earthquake?
In the official magnitude scale used in measuring earthquakes, the earthquake in Turkey registered a 7.8 magnitude. Many experts classified the earthquake as one of the major earthquakes the world has witnessed in the past decade. The casualties that were recorded in the earthquake ran into thousands.
The earthquake broke along about 100km (62 miles) of fault line leading to the destruction of lives and properties along the fault line. Prof Joanna Faure Walker, head of the Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction at University College London, described the earthquake as one of the deadliest earthquakes in the last four years. He mentioned, "Of the deadliest earthquakes in any given year, only two in the last ten years have been of equivalent magnitude, and four in the previous ten years."
The earthquake happened in the early hours of the morning when people were still sleeping or just waking up. Experts in Geography said Turkey's earthquake death toll was much higher because of the structure of the buildings in Turkey.
Dr. Carmen Solana, a reader in volcanology and risk communication at the University of Portsmouth, said most of the buildings in Turkey weren't strong enough to withstand the effects of the earthquake.
"The resistant infrastructure is unfortunately patchy in South Turkey and especially Syria, so saving lives now mostly relies on response. The next 24 hours are crucial to find survivors. After 48 hours the number of survivors decreases enormously," Dr Carmen Solana said.
Many Countries/Organizations Pledges To Help Turkey/Syria
Many countries have promised to help reduce the effects of the earthquake in Turkey by providing them with search dogs and other essentials that will help sustain people's lives. UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organisation, says it will provide some needed facilities to help bring more people out of the rubble.
Many victims and government officials have already complained that most of the work they do to rescue people is done by hand. The government officials mentioned that the country would highly benefit from the help of international organisations and other countries.
The European Union has mobilised search and rescue teams to help bring out some of the victims still under the rubble of the earthquake in Turkey/Syria. Copernicus satellite systems have also been activated so more people can quickly be rescued from the fallen infrastructures.
Other organisations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, have also sent medical materials and experts to help treat those injured in the earthquake.