CRIPPLING TOLL
Bodybags pile up in Turkey with at least 11k dead after mega-quake ‘that MOVED country 10ft’… as Sun readers raise £300k
BODY bags are beginning to pile up in Turkey as the death toll from the earthquake passes 11,200 - while generous Sun readers pledge more than £300,000 to aid rescue efforts.
The massive 7.8 magnitude quake stuck early on Monday with such force that it is believed to have shifted the country by up to 10ft.
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Two further massive earthquakes and dozens of smaller tremors struck in the 24 hours after the initial quake, leaving a trail of destruction stretching for hundreds of miles along Turkey’s border with Syria.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a three-month state of emergency in quake epicentre, Gaziantep, and nine other cities.
Desperate searches are taking place to find survivors buried underneath the rubble of the thousands of buildings destroyed.
Harrowing images show body bags laid out on the road and it's feared the death toll could eventually reach 20,000.
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Such is the scale of disaster that some bodies had to be covered with blankets after bags ran out at one hospital.
"People are dying every second - we are in a race against time," said Mohammed Shibli, from Syria's White Helmets civil defence group, who are leading the rescue efforts in the country.
Professor Carlo Doglioni, president of the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, said the earthquake moved Turkey by 3 metres - around 10ft.
“What we call the Arabian plate moved about 3 meters along the northeast-southwest direction relative to the Anatolian plate," he told Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera.
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“We are talking about a structure in the border region between this world, that of the Arabian plate and that of the Anatolian plate.”
Big-hearted Sun readers have so far raised more than £300,000 in response to the devastation.
All money from the Sun Earthquake Appeal will be donated to the British Red Cross for a major on-the-ground mobilisation.
To donate, visit
It comes as a Brit dad said he watched helplessly hundreds of miles away as his baby monitor captured the moment the Turkey earthquake struck.
He said his "blood froze" as he watched the footage of the moment the huge first quake hit early on Monday.
The baby monitor footage has been shared by Lemi, from Hull, who was in Istanbul as his wife and child were in the city of Adana, near the quake’s epicentre, staying with family.
Video shows little Katelyn in her cot when the room begins to shake and her desperate mum picks her up as she can be heard saying “oh my God”.
Lemi, from Hull, said there was a “big bang” and the dog began barking before she ran downstairs with Katelyn.
“You can hear the whole building squeaking and that tapping noise," he told .
"When you watch it your blood freezes.”
After his wife sent Lemi video from the baby camera, he then began the 535 mile drive to Adana, where he came across scenes of devastation with over a dozen apartment blocks flattened.
“Evacuation is not even a subject because once the building collapses they’re already in it and some of them are still under it,” said Lemi, who provides security for Hull City owner Acul Ilicali.
It comes as...
- The death toll has now reached more than 11,200 but up to 20,000 are feared dead across Turkey and Syria.
- A series of aftershocks have hampered rescue efforts after the collapse of more than 11,000 buildings.
- At least three Brits are missing in the chaos, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said.
- Trapped victims have reportedly been sending desperate voice notes begging for help.
- A grieving father was seen holding the lifeless hand of his daughter whose body was trapped in a destroyed building in Kahramanmaras.
- A newborn baby was also pulled alive from the wreckage of a collapsed building in Jindires, Syria, after his mother died giving birth.
- Aid and rescuers are pouring in from across the world, including from the UK and war-torn Ukraine.
- The Sun has launched the to raise money to help respond to the destruction.
“Some of them have been rescued. It’s only been a day so the rescue is still ongoing. There are still many more apartments that have not been looked under.”
A friend has now set up the on behalf of Lemi and Victoria.
At least 20,426 are so far reported injured with at least 11,302 buildings destroyed and it's feared the death toll could reach 20,000.
Heartbreaking stories are beginning to emerge from the aftermath of the quake.
Harrowing images show Mesut Hancer sat holding the hand of his 15-year-old daughter Irmak.
She had died in the city of Kahramanmaras, her fingers reaching in vain from the wreckage of their home.
A new baby was born under the rubble was carried to safety with her umbilical cord still attached in Jenderes, in Syria.
Tragically her mother was reported to have died shortly after giving birth while trapped for more than 24 hours.
In the harbour city of Iskenderen, the sky turned black as hundreds of shipping containers caught fire.
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In Diyarbakir, a city of 1.8million in central Turkey, rescuers battled to find survivors in a collapsed eight-storey block of flats.
A team of 76 search and rescue specialists with four sniffer dogs have already been dispatched from the UK.
Earthquake Appeal passes £300,000
By Ashley Armstrong
SOME of Britain’s biggest companies are joining forces with The Sun’s Earthquake appeal with more than £300,000 raised so far for The British Red Cross.
Frozen foods retailer Iceland has this morning pledged £50,000 while house builder Barratt is also donating £50,000.
Supermarket chain Morrisons has also made a £20,000 contribution to the Sun’s fund, in addition to its donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee.
Homewares retailer Dunelm also made a generous donation to our fund which goes straight to supporting the Red Cross' urgent on-the-ground mobilisation in Turkey and Syria.
Other companies contacted by The Sun are also rallying to donate anonymously. They are joining Tesco and Marks & Spencer which together gave £150,000 within hours of the emergency fund being launched.
All money from our aid plea is being donated to the British Red Cross providing on-the-ground relief in the wake of the disaster.
David Thomas, chief executive of, Barratt Developments said: “We’ve all been affected by the distressing news from Turkey and Syria, we welcome the Sun’s appeal and through our Foundation will donate to support the vital work the Red Cross is doing easing suffering and helping families”
Richard Walker, Chairman of the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation, has joined the appeal saying: “he whole team at Iceland Foods have watched the devastating impact of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria unfold over the past days, and all our thoughts are with those who have been affected, and those who will continue to be affected by this awful event. Our ‘Doing it Right’ mantra has guided the Iceland business for over 50 years, so we felt compelled to help where we can by offering a donation in support of the enormous relief effort.”
Nick Wilkinson, boss of Dunelm, said: “Everyone at Dunelm is shocked to hear about the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria and the terrible impact they are having on so many people. Our donation to the Sun’s campaign with The British Red Cross will provide immediate help to those affected, by helping them gain access to food, water, first aid, clothing and shelter. We will continue to work with our suppliers and colleagues affected by this disaster to offer support.”
David Potts, chief executive of Morrisons, said: “This is a terrible and shocking tragedy and we are determined to help in every way we can. Morrisons is very pleased to support The Sun's Earthquake Appeal. "
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