New tremors add to misery of earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria

Ankara, February 22 (RHC)-- In Turkey, at least six people were killed as two new, powerful earthquakes shook the southern province of Hatay.  

The magnitude 6.3 and 5.8 quakes were felt across Turkey’s border region and into northern Syria, sparking panic among survivors of two even more massive quakes two weeks ago, which killed more than 47,000 people in both countries — a toll that’s certain to rise in the days and weeks ahead. 

Earlier, Istanbul’s mayor warned that about 90,000 buildings are at risk of collapse if a massive earthquake were to strike Turkey’s largest city.

Meanwhile, a convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid crossed Turkey’s Bab al-Hawa border crossing into Syria on Monday, two days after the head of the World Food Program criticized Syrian authorities for blocking access to the area.  Aid workers say they are now contending with a shortage of tents for thousands of Syrians in need.