The changes state that any conventional attack on Russia, aided by a nuclear power, could be considered to be a joint attack
world3 days ago
Green metal coffins were lined up 10 at a time under a shelter at Gaziantep's main cemetery on Wednesday for an imam to bless victims of Turkey's devastating earthquake before their hurried burial.
While rescuers searched rubble for survivors and aftershocks rattled Gaziantep, Yesilkent Cemetery overflowed with grieving relatives who had come from across the region.
The magnitude 7.8 quake and subsequent aftershocks killed more than 11,200 people and Gaziantep was near the epicentre.
Gaziantep mayor Fatma Sahin has made an appeal for more Muslim preachers to come forward to help with funerals at cemeteries.
Hundreds of men formed lines in front of the coffins at Yesilkent as the imam spoke into a headset microphone, stopping in front of each victim to give a blessing.
Women formed their own congregation. Some wailed uncontrollably and one woman fainted and was carried away.
Women from Besni, a district about 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Gaziantep, comforted Hatice, who lost her 17-year-old daughter Ruveyda. Her son, Serhat, 21, was still missing under the rubble.
The family lived on the sixth floor of an apartment block. Hatice, who gave only one name, said that when the quake struck she grabbed her eight-year-old daughter.
But the building was flattened by the tremor. Their escape was one miracle.
Ruveyda initially said she "felt fine", the mother told AFP.
Hours later, Ruveyda fell ill and quickly died in hospital from suspected injuries to internal organs.
Hatice did not want to see her daughter's body before the funeral. "I cannot see her like that," she said in tears.
Done and Ayas Sundar died in their apartment and were led in coffins next to each other in the line.
"It took many hours to find them and now the family is heartbroken. At least they were together but that is little consolation," said their nephew Emre Cengiz.
"After the shock we all telephoned each other but no one could get through to Done and Ayas.
"Then there was the second quake and word spread that there were many dead. Our hearts knew."
Ayse Colak, 35, also died with her husband and parents-in-law in Nurdagi district 65km east of Gaziantep. Her building completely collapsed.
Her sisters cried and touched the coffin in disbelief.
"There is no Nurdagi anymore, the city is completely destroyed", said one sister, who declined to give a name.
The families slowly moved away. But in the male section of the cemetery mosque, groups stood around 10 more coffins, including those of children, awaiting a blessing.
Other bodies were in the women's section. Outside, ambulances arrived at Yesilkent bringing more victims.
The imam would hold midday prayers in the mosque before starting another funeral, officials said as more tearful relatives gathered.
Across the Gaziantep region, international rescue teams joined local emergency services and volunteers in the increasingly desperate search for survivors.
Amid predictions that the death toll from Turkey's worst earthquake in eight decades would mount, Yesilkent was considering extending its operating hours for funeral services, officials said.
ALSO READ:
The changes state that any conventional attack on Russia, aided by a nuclear power, could be considered to be a joint attack
world3 days ago
The country launched a probe in March 2021 into WhatsApp's privacy policy, which allowed data sharing with Facebook and its units, sparking global backlash
world4 days ago
This time around, Trump wants the Senate to give up that gatekeeping role and allow him to make 'recess appointments'
world4 days ago
Police allege the offences took place between 2001 and 2019 against 8 victims; the youngest was 17 at the time of the offence
world4 days ago
The two countries have a mutual defence treaty dating back to 1951, which could be invoked if either side came under attack, including in the South China Sea
world4 days ago
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger on Narendra Modi in Abuja on Sunday
world5 days ago
The titleholder's winning answer focused on using each individual's strengths
world5 days ago
The suspects would be interrogated jointly with the Shin Bet internal security agency, police said
world5 days ago