Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Death toll from earthquakes in Turkey and Syria could double, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator says

Two Spartan military transport aircraft flew the Bulgarian rescuers home last night, another team was flown out to replace them
Photo: Defence Ministry press service

The current death toll from the massive earthquakes in Turkey and Syria could double from its current level, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths stated. The official death toll in the two countries currently stands 28,191. According to the UN, no less than 870,000 people are in need of warm food. 5.3 million people could be left without a roof over their heads in Syria alone. 32,000 staff from Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority and 8,294 rescuers from abroad are taking part in the rescue operations.

Two Spartan military transport aircraft flew the Bulgarian Red Cross mountain rescuers and Sofia municipality emergency rescuers home last night, alongside the trained dogs, after taking part in the rescue operations in different towns in Turkey. Another team was flown out from Sofia to replace them.

Unrest in southern Turkey has disrupted rescue efforts in some places following Monday's deadly earthquake, three rescue groups have said, the BBC reports. German rescuers and the Austrian army paused search operations on Saturday, citing clashes between unnamed groups.

Sofia municipality has set up 7 drop-off locations for donations for the victims of the earthquakes in Turkey, open 9 AM-6 PM, at some of the most popular marketplaces in Sofia. The chairman of the Sofia City Council Georgi Georgiev said in an interview with the BNR, that the items needed most are cold weather tents, blankets, generators, gas heaters and winter clothing. As of Monday, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria is also setting up donation spots at its offices throughout the country.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia sign green energy cooperation pact

Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Baku on cooperation in the transmission and trade of green energy.  The document was inked by the energy ministers of Bulgaria and Azerbaijan, Zhecho Stankov and..

published on 4/4/25 4:34 PM
President Radev (R) and King Abdullah II

Aqaba Process summit in Sofia addresses terrorism, migration and radicalisation in the Balkans

The President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, and the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, are hosting the Aqaba Process Summit, which focuses on the Balkans and brings together nearly 30 delegations. These delegations are led by Heads of State, government..

published on 4/4/25 3:53 PM
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov

Bulgaria cannot intervene in espionage case against Bulgarians in the UK, says PM Zhelyazkov

Bulgaria cannot intervene in the espionage case against Bulgarian citizens in the UK. This was stated by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov during parliamentary question time, in response to a question from the Velichie party.  "Criminal justice is carried..

published on 4/4/25 2:22 PM