ANKARA - Noting that the government and AFAD took late action after the Pazarcık district of Maraş-epicentered earthquakes, TMMOB underlined that the first critical day and a half were lost in search and rescue efforts.

 

The Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) Chamber of Mining Engineers has published a statement containing the first findings obtained during the examinations, observations and interviews it conducted in Adana, İskenderun, Antakya, Kırıkhan, Nurdağı and Gaziantep provinces and districts.

 

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS DELAY!

 

Stating that the biggest problem was the late action of the government and AFAD against the magnitude of the earthquake, the statement said: "For this reason, the first one and a half days, which is extremely important in search and rescue efforts, were lost, and rescue efforts were started in the earthquake areas, especially in the districts, from the afternoon of the second day."

 

'AFAD INCREASED SEVERITY'

 

It was stated in the statement: "AFAD was insufficient in terms of capacity and taking effective decisions. It caused an increase in severity by preventing the participation of civil society in the works. Despite this failure of AFAD, various organizations and civil society have made significant contributions both in search and rescue efforts and in providing necessary assistance." 

 

The highlights of the problems identified in the continuation of the statement were listed as follows:

 

LACK OF MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

 

* The lack of machinery and equipment to be used in the rescue works caused the rescue works to be carried out extremely slowly. In the first four days of the earthquake, it was observed that the coordination problem was still not resolved, and the problems of accommodation and subsistence continued to a large extent.

 

TENT PROBLEM

 

* The problems of subsistence started to decrease from the 3rd day, the tent problem could not be solved in the first 4 days, especially in Antakya, where the destruction was great, the tent and toilet problems are a very urgent and priority problem, and this situation carries the risk of epidemics.

 

SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS

 

* From the 5th day of search and rescue efforts, it has been observed that the activity has turned into removal of debris, except for places with living findings.

 

HOLDING MINING WORKERS

 

* When mine rescue teams complete their work, when they want to go to other provinces and districts in need, they are kept on hold on the grounds of 'not until the order arrives', which delays and hinders the rescue efforts.

 

BLOCKING INCREASED THE DEATH TOLLS

 

* AFAD intervened in the search and rescue methods of miners in some places, as a result, it was not possible to save more citizens.”

 

TMMOB's investigations will continue with Maraş, Elbistan, Adıyaman, Doğanşehir and Malatya.