Earthquake Damage In Syria Must Lead To Sanction Relief
Earlier today two large earthquakes have caused widespread damage in south Turkey and north Syria:
Nine hours after a first earthquake of magnitude M7.8 that hits south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, February 6th 2023 at 1h17 UTC, a second M7.5 occurs (at 10h24 UTC) 100km further north. More information on the main shock (M7.8) is available here and for the 7.5 (here).
These earthquakes has been largely felt up to 2000 km from the epicenter, mainly in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, ...
At the time of the report, a lot of buildings are damaged in Turkey and Syria and more than 1200 peoples haven been killed in Turkey and Syria.
Some 10 million people live in the affected area. The current count of death is already above 2,500. Whole city blocks have 'pancaked' (vid) and were destroyed. Many dead will likely still be under the rubble.
The area is prone to earthquakes. Just days ago an expert had warned that a big one was coming:
Frank Hoogerbeets @hogrbe - 0:03 UTC · Feb 3, 2023Sooner or later there will be a ~M 7.5 #earthquake in this region (South-Central Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon). #deprem
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Aftershock activities show that todays quakes occurred along two fault lines.
After the first big shake:
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Aftershocks of the second quake:
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These quakes are not unusual. Two parts of the earth surface are fighting there. The Arab plate is moving northward pushing the Anatolian plate to the west, southwest.
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Snow and freezing temperatures as well as extensive damage to infrastructure are hindering rescue efforts:
The biggest death toll in Turkey is in Kahramanmaras, the epicenter of the quake, where 70 people are reported dead. Television footage shows emergency teams and volunteers trying to rescue people under the debris in the province under heavy snowfall.Turkey’s southern province of Hatay, bordering war-torn Syria, stands out as one of the most impacted areas in the region. Hatay Gov. Rahmi Dogan said two state hospitals had collapsed in the province’s central town of Antakya and the seaside town of Iskenderun.
"The majority of the buildings along the coast of Iskenderun collapsed," a Hatay resident told Al-Monitor. Volkan Demirel, coach of Hatayspor and former soccer player, appealed for help in an online video. “Please help, the situation … here is really bad,” Demirel said in tears.
Vice President Fuat Oktay said that the province’s airport was closed due to heavy damage.
Orhan Mursaloglu, deputy mayor of Antakya, was among those trapped under the rubble after his apartment building collapsed. No rescue workers had reached the site as of time of publication of this article, his relatives told Al-Monitor.
Some 25 years ago I backpack traveled in the area. I had visited Sanliurfa and Gaziantep and a number of smaller towns. The standard of the buildings going up there were very mixed. Some were sturdy. But in others the concrete pillars holding the upper floors seemed extremely weak to me. They were build with very little reinforcements. In the later city I had climbed up to the imposing castle above the town. Unfortunately it no longer exists.
Liz Cookman @liz_cookman - 7:02 UTC · Feb 6, 2023Gaziantep castle, constructed by the Romans and rebuilt extensively by the Seljuks, collapsed. #deprem #TurkeyEarthquake
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International support for the areas has started. Turkey is generally earthquake prone and has a lot of rescue stuff. It will now get more. Unfortunately Syria, which is under devastating sanctions, will get little.
This would be a good time to lift those sanctions if only for purely humanitarian reasons.
Posted by b on February 6, 2023 at 15:47 UTC | Permalink
next page »Being on the nations scheduled to be "rolled up" Syria has been targeted for destruction for many years now. They are being punished for being allies with Russia, functioning independently and not being s vassal to the USA and it's vassals. Syria was engulfed in one of the worst color revolution wars in recent history and with some help they have prevailed. Libya was not so fortunate. To this day USA forces are in Syria, training insurgents and overseeing the theft of it's oil. "Make the economy scream" as per the Kissinger quote is cruel method of inflicting pain on the populace in order to harness their discontent. When the USA and it's "allies" continue this sinister stranglehold, they will continue to confirm their draconian nature.
Posted by: Chevrus | Feb 6 2023 16:01 utc | 2
The initial aftershock epicenters indicate a ~400 km long rupture - that is massive! Only few strike-slip earthquakes in recorded history reached such length: 1906 San Francisco (M 7.9) and 2001 Kunlun (M 7.8) https://twitter.com/prof_quakemod/status/1622578987305168897?s=61&t=Ux-c62Gfmr4z7vqiSG2xCQ
Posted by: PM | Feb 6 2023 16:16 utc | 3
The sanctions on Syria will remain as that's the Empire's mojo--it's never cared how many die from its deeds. I'm sure the Kurds and the Empire's terrorists got a good shaking too.
Great mapping of the quakes, b. I await something similar along the San Andreas as it's long overdue. And presumably that quake will loosen things along our subduction zone directly offshore of Central Oregon. Yet another reminder of the planet's power and just how puny we humans are in comparison.
Posted by b on February 6, 2023:
"This would be a good time to lift those sanctions if only for purely humanitarian reasons."
Absolutely, it would be a long overdue sign to end these illegal and mean sanctions. However, I am pessimistic. When I look at the captions in the (western) media, even in such terrible natural events, certain political boundaries seem to be drawn, so I see pictures from certain locations and read about "White Helmets, Idlib, rebel province", while in Syria parts of the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Tartus and Hama, located in the west and north-west of the country all appear to be affected, although possibly to different degrees.
As said, it gives the first impression that mental political boundaries could be cultivated even in course of such tragic events. We'll see if some state actors call for sanctions to be lifted...
Posted by: Konrad | Feb 6 2023 16:30 utc | 5
@ b
Unfortunately Syria, which is under devastating sanctions, will get little.
This would be a good time to lift those sanctions if only for purely humanitarian reasons.
Appreciate this report on the devastation in Turkey and Syria.
With due respect – the thought of Uncle Scam lifting sanctions is wishful thinking. Excepting of the Chosen Tribes, “Lives in the R-o-W are of no value”
Remembering the top 3: Cuba, Iran and Iraq.
Posted by: Likklemore | Feb 6 2023 16:31 utc | 6
the problem is that they consider the sanctions as "well meaning" which means that if millions die, some Madeline Albright tier person will say it was worth it
Posted by: leaf | Feb 6 2023 16:31 utc | 7
Twitter video footage is horrific. The Turks will need to reassess how they build multi-story housing. Presumably the buildings still standing are damaged to some degree and likely unsafe. This catastrophe will test Erdogan, and his response will win or lose the election for him, IMO.
It was mostly Afrin area, basically Turkish-occupied bits of Syria, that were badly hit, and to some extent possibly the Turkish-backed rebel parts. This would complicate foreign aid, so one could assume that, since Turkey decided to stealthily annex the area, they'll have to do the rescue and rebuild parts. Though with a mostly Kurdish area, I'm not sure Turkey is going to want to spend a lot of money on it. Whatever, short-term, I suppose the less tricky way of directly rescuing and helping people is to send a lot of foreign aid and rescuers to Turkey and hope Turkey will divert some of its own rescue teams to occupied Syria.
I also hope the structure of the Ataturk dam hasn't been damaged in any way.
Posted by: Clueless Joe | Feb 6 2023 16:36 utc | 9
The US will help ally Turkey while Syria gets the middle finger . . er. . ." deep sadness ".. . and let the NGO's respond.
...from State:
The United States expresses our deep sadness at the tragic loss of life and destruction across Türkiye and Syria from today’s earthquakes. We extend our condolences to the families of those affected and are assessing our comprehensive response options. I have directed my team to remain in close contact with our Turkish allies and our humanitarian partners in the coming days to determine what the region needs. Our initial assistance response to Türkiye is already underway, and U.S.-supported humanitarian organizations in Syria are responding to the earthquakes’ effects across the country. We are determined to do all that we can to help those affected by these earthquakes in the days, weeks, and months ahead. . .here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 6 2023 16:41 utc | 11
Me thinks, that the most affected area in Syria is NOT under government control.
Lots of white helmets there providing first aid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K0N-7zk7Do&t=94s
Posted by: linus | Feb 6 2023 16:42 utc | 12
Gaia has just come in and kicked over the geo-political table.
Sorrow for the loss of life........
How will our species respond?
With barbarism or socialism?
Will the response educate/motivate the global public?
Posted by: psychohistorian | Feb 6 2023 16:42 utc | 13
thanks b... my condolences to all concerned...
ditto @ Chevrus | Feb 6 2023 16:01 utc | 2 and @ karlof1 | Feb 6 2023 16:18 utc | 4
unfortunately, that is how i see it too... i would love to be wrong... it will be usa showing its true colours...
Posted by: james | Feb 6 2023 16:49 utc | 14
"This would be a good time to lift those sanctions if only for purely humanitarian reasons."
That is not going to happen--certainly not without strings attached.
If anything, the Americans and their allies will opportunistically seize upon this humanitarian tragedy to put even greater pressure on Syria--as well as try to deploy its "humanitarian organizations" as proxies to penetrate Syrian civil society.
This is what the Americans have done to other nations and their humanitarian crises--like Haiti.
This is the USA's standard operating procedure.
Syria must rely upon itself and trusted allies like Iran, Hezbollah, Russia, etc.
The last thing that Syria should do is trust the countries (like America) that have armed and bankrolled jihadi terrorist groups--including Al-Queda affiliates like Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham/Al Nusra Front--to wage a covert terror war against Syria that has killed over 300,000 civilians the past decade.
Posted by: ak74 | Feb 6 2023 16:51 utc | 15
Obviously Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Iran, Russia, Turkey, India, China will have to provide aid and illustrate the utter moral bankruptcy of USA
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Feb 6 2023 17:02 utc | 16
Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 6 2023 16:32 utc | 8
Biggest earthquake since 1939. So on the basis that every 84 years a devastating earthquake occurs it is essential to produce such stringent, high-specification building regulations that no-one can afford to rent a home and lives in a tent instead ?
Building regulations in a somewhat poor country are invitation to corruption to circumvent them or simply to homelessness -
After all UK has ONLY regulations on fire-retardation in cladding for high-rise buildings but it did nothing to prevent Grenfell Tower when regulations were skirted
Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Feb 6 2023 17:07 utc | 17
Yes AK74, that IS the USA’s SOP: The keep the boot firmly on the neck of the downtrodden no matter if they are pretending to be helpful or not. Syria will simply join the portion of the RoW in setting up their own system, bypassing the USA and their subjects, creating their own prosperity. What is interesting is how the sanctions against Russia have more or less backfired. I think they will find that there are a LOT of materials that they simply cannot do without, and most of them come from Russia and China. Crucial to Syria’s reconstruction is prying the USA forces from their nests in Al-Tanf and elsewhere. If/when things heat up and Iran’s patience expires, these bases may very well be the targets of precision missiles. The demonstration was Al-Assad air base and USA HQ, so it is not much of a mystery. They are likely pre-registered targets.
Posted by: Chevrus | Feb 6 2023 17:14 utc | 18
if i recall correctly the last major quake that hit iran in 2017 showed how likely it is that sanctions will be lifted or even relaxed. we're not talking about actual humans running this sh_t in DC. suffering is the whole reason they toss out pointless unilateral sanctions.
as for the region, the last major one was actually kinda sorta around the time you would have been there (1999). i think it was 7.5 but my memory isn't awake yet. apparently this one was not only high magnitude but "shallow" meaning it was less than 2km underground. the closer to your feet, the more you feel it so this was a particularly heavy one. if syria gets any aid it will be from the usual "B" countries but turkey's tactics of "playing every side" ensure the usual quick response.
Posted by: the pair | Feb 6 2023 17:14 utc | 19
This seems like one of those natural catastrophes in which the death-toll will be exponentially higher in the coming days.
Posted by: Turk 152 | Feb 6 2023 17:15 utc | 20
Begging will not do.what the hell is Russia lingering on in syria when it chose to invite americans for chat in (by traitor sergei lavrov) in feb 2016 when Assad'z Army was winning?
Russia has a knack of turning almost son wars into a quagmire all because of her lack of confidence and inferiority compkdx.
Posted by: sam | Feb 6 2023 17:21 utc | 21
LoL are we seriously expecting sanctions relief from the same NATO bloc that bombed Syrian water treatment plants during Syrias extreme drought?
Come on now
Posted by: Comandante | Feb 6 2023 17:23 utc | 22
Last night I was reading the comments on the last Uqraine thread must of been about 2 or 3 am (acute insomnia, stress related) I came across 2 or 3 saying Turkey had been alerted to the possibility of an iminnate terrorist attack. I had the radio on and this was reported. Commen sense said coincidence. Then I remembered that only 2 weeks ago Iran was really heavily bombed by Israil and immediately in the same area had a massive earthquake.
Both countrys are to a certain extent Russia friendly, right.
The US and Israile are as we know both genicidal, Insane psychopaths.
Now not being any kind is expert on earthquakes....
Could some here put my mind at rest re the practcalitys.
Please don't shoot me down here.
I bet alot of people are wondering what I am wondering, so far i appear to be the only one with the balls to say it.
Free speech and all that.
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 6 2023 17:27 utc | 23
@Sam21: You may wanna tweet your chat bot settings….That word salad is unreadable.
Posted by: Chevrus | Feb 6 2023 17:32 utc | 24
Assad must go. When Assad is gone maybe we can talk.
Hunter's requirements to cut a deal are very simple and well known. Hookers, blow, some cash for immediate past-dues, 10% for the big guy. But first Assad must go.
Posted by: oldhippie | Feb 6 2023 17:33 utc | 25
Russia sent two planes with rescue teams. They have sent medical emergency and field hospitals to Syria. Russian troops (about 300) and equipment are also being used in Syria. Iran has trucks with equipment in Turkey. Turkey has established a humanitarian corridor.
Even Greece has made a 180 degree turn and sent aid and offered to put their troops at the convenience of Turkey.
Other countries in the area who have sent planes, people, and equipment that I have seen mentioned: UAE, Albania, Azerbaijan, Romania.
Posted by: Belle | Feb 6 2023 17:34 utc | 26
Those poor, poor people. I know they weren't, but those buildings falling looked like controlled demolitions. Just horrible.
Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | Feb 6 2023 17:36 utc | 27
Unfortunately this kind of earthquake happens regularly in the Middle East, and nothing can be done about it. Nobody's worked out how to predict earthquakes, other than to know where the fault lies are (in this case the Jordan valley/Orontes fault). I doubt if earthquake resistant construction would help that much - not enough wood is available without massive importation.
I had friends who dug up a similar strength earthquake from 1300 years ago. It was exactly the same; they dug up skeletons of people attempting to flee when the house fell in on them, along with all the contents of the house. It was particularly devastating because it took place at the same time of year in January, and I guess those poor people who escaped then froze from the cold. They judged the date in the year, from a herd of camels who died, and the stage of development of the foetus's in the she-camels corresponded to January.
Posted by: laguerre | Feb 6 2023 17:44 utc | 28
Its the russians fault
The white helmets report trougth Norwegian state broadcaster that it is partly the russian bombing in syria that has made all these houses collaps.
Putin again
Posted by: Paul | Feb 6 2023 17:45 utc | 29
Paul Greenwood @17--
Better building specifications don't need to make rents higher. I suggest you look at the extent of the devastation and rethink what you wrote.
What Syria (and Turkey) need is very clear. What Turkey and Syria will get however is internal meddling undermining the authorities given they don't tow the Western line, conditional help, conditional funds with string attached and USAID affiliated NGO's (as in CIA, DGSE, MI6, ...) coming to the "rescue". Or as some Anglo-Saxons say: Never Waste a Good Crisis.
Posted by: xor | Feb 6 2023 17:56 utc | 31
Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 6 2023 17:48 utc | 30
You're talking about what can be done in California, not the Middle East.
Posted by: laguerre | Feb 6 2023 18:00 utc | 32
Funnily enough, it's a situation where you're better off being a displaced person living in a tent, as they do in Idlib.
Posted by: laguerre | Feb 6 2023 18:09 utc | 33
This would be a good time to lift those sanctions if only for purely humanitarian reasons.
Posted by b on February 6, 2023 at 15:47 UTC |
Well yes. That's what is rational and human. However, as Zaharova recently said, the West has forgotten what being a human even means.
Posted by: Vikichka | Feb 6 2023 18:15 utc | 34
Not only sanctions on Syria will not be relieved but the west will force Turkey in fully applying the sanctions on Russia in exchange of its support.
Posted by: scc | Feb 6 2023 18:16 utc | 35
The white helmets have moved in and I just listened to Lizz Duset give an interview there.
Lisa Duset who always appeared right on the sport when their was a Uqraine massacre to be blamed on Russia.
Clealy working to mi6 script.
Ditto Afganistan.
So nothing to see here then right ?
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 6 2023 18:23 utc | 37
Paul Greenwood @17--Better building specifications don't need to make rents higher. I suggest you look at the extent of the devastation and rethink what you wrote.
Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 6 2023 17:48 utc | 30
Looking at the photos of the recently collapsed apartments, I see lots of concrete turned to rubble and dust. Little evidence of adequate steel reinforcing, which is more expensive than concrete.
Buildings right next door are 100% intact, implying that they were built to some code or standard. The debate should be incompetence vs corruption.
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Feb 6 2023 18:32 utc | 38
I am writing from Turkiye. Your point of lifting the sanctions on Syria is 100% correct. An urgent decision in this regard is of required. However, after such a disaster that have killed thousands of people and while we are trying to relieve the shock, I am really disappointed with the clueless attitude of some of the people here. The Turkish government and all the people in Turkiye are doing their best to help the affected. Don't be misled by the trolls of Twitter.
@b, by the way, that charlatan account you mentioned has been posting earthquake predictions (and deleting the ones that do not hold) based on the positioning of planets and the moon and the sun. Quite scientific huh?
Posted by: cgoks | Feb 6 2023 18:37 utc | 39
I remember when Haiti had a huge earthquake in 2010, we sent them cholera.
Posted by: teri | Feb 6 2023 18:41 utc | 40
...but those buildings falling looked like controlled demolitions.
Posted by: ThusspakeZarathustra | Feb 6 2023 17:36 utc | 27
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Nissan dealership still standing though.
Posted by: Nobody | Feb 6 2023 18:49 utc | 41
While I agree there should be sanctions relief at the least anyways, not gonna happen. At Mark2 how in the actual Fawk does one read here constantly and still fuck up simple spelling of Ukraine? I mean I get ESL and all that, this is something more though. I mean seriously when u READ Ukraine as b or almost anyone else here writes it does it show up as uqwain or some other nonsense in ur brain? As to Weather as a weapon, I believe its possible.
Posted by: Tannenhouser | Feb 6 2023 19:19 utc | 42
Assad must go. When Assad is gone maybe we can talk.
Hunter's requirements to cut a deal are very simple and well known. Hookers, blow, some cash for immediate past-dues, 10% for the big guy. But first Assad must go.
Posted by: oldhippie | Feb 6 2023 17:33 utc | 25
———————-
It is not for you to decide leader of which country has to go. Just like it’s not up to anyone else but Russians to decide how long Putin stays in power.
We have 0 moral right to tell people of other countries that they must chose leaders based on our approval.
Look at Russians. If they support Putin we tell them they are brainwashed. If they oppose Putin, they immediately put on pedestal and we call them heroes. The problem is, we are the brainwashed ones in any case, because we are told that opposing Putin takes some kind of heroism, meanwhile it’s much more dangerous in America to oppose a Democrat president because you will face consequences by merely doing it on Twitter or get physically assaulted by their supporters on the street. In Russia proponents and opponents of Putin act in a much more civilized manner.
Posted by: Nigerian Prince | Feb 6 2023 19:23 utc | 43
The "chosen people" have been occupying part of Syria since 1967 along with the part of Palestine not given to them by the UN. The chosen people bomb them from time to time just so they know who the boss is. The US has been and continues to occupy part of the country and steals the oil and grain. Trump was honest about it. Sanctions are a modern form of siege warfare. Starve the children.. USA USA USA.
Posted by: Bob | Feb 6 2023 19:25 utc | 44
A perfect opportunity for Greco-Turkish detente. If I were the PM in Athens I'd reach out to Erdogan and say 'let us do all we can for you in order to show you what we think our natural relationship should be—good neighbours, regional partners, future friends'.
Posted by: Patroklos | Feb 6 2023 19:28 utc | 45
I am waiting for Zelenskyy to come out as the biggest victim of the earthquake and condemn it for taking attention away from his role play of a strong Ukrainian leader.
Posted by: New guy | Feb 6 2023 19:33 utc | 46
Posted by: 7even-N-6 | Feb 6 2023 18:34 utc | 39
"U.S. and Israel are using some king of HAARP or earthquake producing technology."
I doubt the US would sacrifice most of it's nuclear arsenal on the foothills of Eastern Turkey. However, it sounds like their God Status psyop is quite effective.
Posted by: Turk 152 | Feb 6 2023 19:35 utc | 47
I know well of California's earthquake codes since I'm a native of that state and continue to live in an active earthquake zone here in Oregon. Yes, corruption in building is clearly present. We won't know how well the billions of $$ in retrofitting after the 1989 quake will perform until we have a repeat. And there are clear questions about the stability of high-rise condos constructed on fill in Foster City. Sadly, Turks, Syrians and others will need to deal with the devastation and what abetted it; and from my experience, that won't be easy politically.
Sanctions relief? More likely to take it as an opportunity to move more military into the area under the guise of providing help.
Posted by: Billb | Feb 6 2023 19:39 utc | 49
Sadly, Turks, Syrians and others will need to deal with the devastation and what abetted it; and from my experience, that won't be easy politically.
Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 6 2023 19:36 utc | 49
You're not realistic. The conditions available in California can't be done in the Middle East. If that earthquake happened in Israel, even, they would have been devastated in the same way, as Israel doesn't have earthquake resistant rules.
Posted by: laguerre | Feb 6 2023 19:46 utc | 50
It was probably Putin attacking Incerlik Air Base. /S
Posted by: Turk 152 | Feb 6 2023 19:47 utc | 51
Belgium and Netherlands, Washington's obedient vassals, weren't even helped that much after the floods in 2021. Believing Syria will get aid is delusional.
Posted by: Elisabeth | Feb 6 2023 19:47 utc | 52
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 6 2023 17:27 utc | 23
The thought crossed my mind too, Mark. I know squat about tectonics but ..if something happens 1 time it's happenstance, 2 times is coincidence, 3 times is enemy action.
And remember when the NoKo physicists were entombed in their mountain r&d facility?
Posted by: Mary | Feb 6 2023 19:49 utc | 53
b - "Just days ago an expert had warned that a big one was coming"
I'm not sure mainstream geologists would agree he's an expert - his organisation seems to be well outside the mainstream (though so were many famous people once), claiming that "planetary geometry" aka alignment of the planets and moon, can affect the earth's crust and trigger quakes.
OTOH he was spot-on this time, I don't know how many other similar predictions he's made that didn't come to pass. Stopped clocks and all that.
My untutored guess is that surely planets like Uranus and Mercury are just too far away for them to have much influence on earth.
Posted by: YetAnotherAnon | Feb 6 2023 19:49 utc | 54
writes it does it show up as uqwain or some other nonsense in ur brain?
Posted by: Tannenhouser | Feb 6 2023 19:19 utc | 43
Typos happen. By the way, he didn't type "w" for "r". Also "ur" is spelled "your."
Posted by: Mary | Feb 6 2023 19:55 utc | 55
I wrote: "Sadly, Turks, Syrians and others will need to deal with the devastation and what abetted it; and from my experience, that won't be easy politically."
WTF does that have to do with California?
WTF does that have to do with California?
Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 6 2023 19:57 utc | 58
Typical American, everything is California but you don't recognise it. Common problem on MoA.
Posted by: laguerre | Feb 6 2023 20:12 utc | 57
Discret et efficace quasi naturel le tremblement de terre. Si ça ressemble à un deux trois coups tordus c est HAARP ET C est USA. Les ennemis sont prévenus. On habite tous pres d une petite faille qu il convient de reveiller. Le Hic c est qu aux USA aussi il y a de grandes failles. C est vrai le nucleaire c est HAS BEEN. Le naturel c est tendance
.
Posted by: Creoff | Feb 6 2023 20:17 utc | 58
cgoks | Feb 6 2023 18:37 utc | 40
First up, condolences to you in Turkiye. Even if you are not immediately affected, I’m sure you know, or know of others who are.
Second
“…based on the positioning of planets and the moon and the sun. Quite scientific huh?”
Yes.
What causes the tides?
King tides?
Planetary movements do exert gravitational pull on our planet. Can that trigger earthquake? It would appear the correlation should not be arbitrarily dismissed.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 6 2023 20:22 utc | 59
Gaziantep region is worst quake in 100 years … is economisch poor region, lack of funds to build robust buildings. This quake was close to the surface at 7 km causing more destruction.
Turkey experienced two major earthquakes in 1999, which occurred 86 days apart on the North Anatolian Fault system. Two consequent earthquakes with magnitudes over 7 in the same region is very seldom in the world seismic history.
The socio-economic impact of the 1999 Gölcük Earthquake would be felt in Turkey for years to come. The disasters have left a long-term legacy.
USGS Report
https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2000/c1193/c1193.pdf
Nigerian Prince | Feb 6 2023 19:23 utc | 44
You are not a known poster here.
Can I recommend you familiarise yourself with the concept of sardonic humour?
Often identified as “/s” online. (Sarcasm is not exactly the same. IDGAF.)
Humor is applied liberally here @bar.
Old hippy, who is a long time regular, enjoys indulging.
Others here also recognise it and appreciate it.
Posted by: Melaleuca | Feb 6 2023 20:32 utc | 61
7even-N-6 @39
Mary @ 54
Thanks for your honest and sincere replys, I agree with both of you.
Their seems to be a lack of real expert comments refuting my gen inquiry.
Only adding to my fear or maybe paranoia.
-------
Lets take a further look.
As predicted the US UK are beyound doubt losing in Ukraine. The precise timing of this tragedy as a distraction is notable with the fall of strategic citys to the Russian army right now.
Plus the western provoked war with Russia had little to do with Ukraine.
That was just a meens to an end to engage Russia in a full on war with NATO and the west.
Having failed thanks to Vladimir Putin's cool head and sanity.
Have the insane west resorted to nuclear brinkmanship ?
I don't know. I hope not.
Tannerhousen sorry about my spelling i'l try harder if you will re-ajust your priorities in life.
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 6 2023 20:36 utc | 62
In NATO countries msm show Syria News only the return of the White Helmets with bs propaganda story. Idlib is the concentration area of jihadists, IS terrorists and opposition forces. A “gated community” controlled by Türkiye and Russia. Syria will get relief from Pakistan, UAE en most Arab nations and Putin’s Russia. The UN has presence in Syria and will likely try to coordinate relief efforts.
The rubbish Posted by: sam | Feb 6 2023 17:21 utc | 21
You are soiling yourself at the bar where patrons gather to share drinks and have a nice chat. There is a bathroom across the street on Facebook.
Russian rescuers set off for Turkey, Syria after devastating earthquake — ministry
According to the latest reports, nearly 1,700 people have been killed and more than 11,000 have been injured in the quake in Turkey
MOSCOW, February 6. /TASS/. Russian rescuers have set off for Turkey and Syria to help eliminate the consequences of Monday’s devastating earthquake, the Russian emergencies ministry said."At the instruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov has sent a team of rescuers to Turkey and Syria," it said.
According to a TASS correspondent, three planes with Russian rescuers have already taken off for Turkey.[.]
Posted by: Likklemore | Feb 6 2023 21:07 utc | 64
Not mentioned here amid speculations of unlikely enemy sabotage or significant planetary gravitational pull is the potential effects of the earth's magnetic poles.
It was noted a few years ago that the movement of the magnetic poles from the Canadian Arctic Islands toward Russia had accelerated greatly. That rapid movement implies there were shifts inside the earth's molten core.
It is likely that these shifts will eventually be reflected in increased movement along tectonic plates and increased volcanic activity.
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Feb 6 2023 21:09 utc | 65
Unfortunately this kind of earthquake happens regularly in the Middle East, and nothing can be done about it.
Posted by: laguerre | Feb 6 2023 17:44 utc | 28
What you CAN DO is not blocking resources allowing folks to build better. With enormous war destruction in Syria, especially Aleppo region, there was massive need to rebuild shelter and buildings of all kind, and sanctions were SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED SO SYRIA WILL STAY IN RUINS.
Of course, Syrians are resourceful and entrepreneurial, so a lot of reconstruction happened, but they had to cut corners out of necessity. Aleppo regions was not hit hardest by the quake, and it was affected a lot. Extra blood in the hands of rule-based-world-order.
BTW, there was a lot of destruction in Kurdish cities of Turkey, and I wonder how it affected the destruction.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Feb 6 2023 21:12 utc | 66
I'm the skeptical type and believe that in this day and age weapons exist that can cause earthquakes.
Posted by: Republicofscotland | Feb 6 2023 21:22 utc | 67
re: "Assad must go"
...a blast from the past....
Dec 14, 2011 -- AP
The Obama administration is predicting the downfall of Syrian President Bashar Assad with a senior official likening his authoritarian regime to a "dead man walking" over its brutal crackdown on pro-reform demonstrators and increasing international isolation.
The State Department official, Frederic Hof, told Congress on Wednesday that Assad's repression may allow him to hang on to power but only for a short time. And, he urged the Syrian opposition to prepare for the day when it takes control of the state in order to prevent chaos and sectarian conflict.
"Our view is that this regime is the equivalent of dead man walking," said Hof, the State Department's pointman on Syria, which he said was turning into "Pyongyang in the Levant," a reference to the North Korean capital. He said it was difficult to determine how much time Assad has left in power but stressed "I do not see this regime surviving." . .here
Of course Assad didn't fall, so the current West position is "elections." (As if they ever solve anything.)
". . . We expressed our firm commitment to the implementation of all aspects of UNSCR 2254, including a nation-wide ceasefire, the release of any arbitrarily detained persons, free and fair elections, and the need to build conditions for the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons, consistent with UN standards. " ..here
Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 6 2023 21:25 utc | 68
Russia is moving, how about you China, plus other BRICS?. . .while the West flounders.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 6 2023 21:28 utc | 69
So a tragedy has occurred, supposedly an Act of God, but
Posted by: laguerre | Feb 6 2023 20:12 utc | 59
what you say is all you got to say....
that is telling.
You better consider that some of us care about those who have been suffering and all the knowledge in the world, all the intelligence makes no difference when folks decide to work together.
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 6 2023 21:30 utc | 70
Moreover, laguerre sometimes it is best to be humble and I think what the folks who have been suffering need is assistance, and any country worth its salt helps out its neighbors when "Acts of God" occur.
So really - all you got is acrimony for another?
All you got is intelligence - this way and that?
Did it ever occur to you, that some things matter more than intelligence?
I can't stand the state of California in the us of a, I think it is a pathetic place, but in the context of this conversation, I'm gonna say to you face-to-face that you are out of line and I remember what you posted earlier and I've taken note of it.
I hope the folks suffering get assistance - the sooner the better.
BK
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 6 2023 21:35 utc | 71
Apparently Russia doesn't hold a grudge.
. . .from past reports--The Ukrainian military is deploying Turkish-manufactured TB2 Bayraktar "tank killer" drones during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Posted by: Don Bacon | Feb 6 2023 21:37 utc | 72
On the Syrian side, the media footage of the damage is mainly coming from the 'opposition-controlled' areas and, lo and behold, who is hogging the limelight but our old friends the White Helmets. One sequence in particular has been doing the rounds: rescue workers are bent over a hole in the rubble of a collapsed building and, as the onlookers shout 'Miracle!' etc. (according to the subtitles or voiceover, I forget which), one of them pulls a live baby out of the hole and runs with it in his arms past the camera to a waiting ambulance while we all get our hankies wet. You couldn't make it up. Could you?
Posted by: B. Wildered | Feb 6 2023 21:54 utc | 73
re Buffalo_Ken | Feb 6 2023 21:35 utc | 73
I know it is irritating but you're arguing with an idiot who has been talking this type of garbage for years. Sometimes he's an englander, other times a frenchman and still other times an orientalist old ME hand, it never seems to matter what is the persona, the result is inevitable lightweight garbage eg has always dismissed France's yellow jackets as 'right wingers' when anyone with half a grain of knowledge knows that the pissed off people wearing yellow jackets were much more complex than that. If you spend long enough here you'll discover there are some who're not worth reading - ever.
Posted by: Debsisdead | Feb 6 2023 21:55 utc | 74
Thank you Debisdead for the wisdom you share, but what I cannot abide is when somebody presents something that is confidential and personal and private in communication only because they can, and I want to go on record as saying that I cannot abide that and there will be consequences to idle talk and suggestions unnecessary.
~
Sometimes, those who cause trouble need a bump or a bock on the head, to realize that if you fuck around with somebody who is playing for real, then there are consequences permanent.
~
Thank you Dibisdead....and of course I know this might mean the troll keeps on talking as they dig their own grave, and so maybe we ought all watch it happen based on what you say and that informs my view.....so
Thanks.
Myself, I'm fond of balloons and I don't want them to be shot down needlessly nor wastefully and I want the folks in Turkey and Syria who have been suffering for far too long to get some peace most desereved.
Most of all, I want Justified Retribution and I think it is on the way.
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 6 2023 22:06 utc | 75
Sorry for my misspelling, Debisdead, the second time on my spelling....
I consider my friends off-limits even if they post publicly, and anybody puts out feelers in that regard should be prepared for a rabid response.
~
So, now that that is out of the way, it is evident this is a trivial matter best ignored because what matters is the folks who have suffered or are suffering by virtue of an Act of God and now I will focus my attention on that.
~
I'll bow out for now.
Thanks.
BK
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 6 2023 22:12 utc | 76
So no doubt my worse fears will prove to be wrong, but they are ligitamate
None the less, why, becouse of the present hostility toward Russia thats the reason.
Their has always been an awareness that nucular war could start acidentaly, I beleave we have had some close calls in the past.
Recently on MOA it was said that world war 3 would probably take place in the middle East.
This will be my last comment on this thread...
I hope it gives Americans food for thought. you stand just one hour away from total distruction, you are no better or more infallible than anybody else. We are in this fragile situation purely becouse America wants to dominate the world dispite having zero morals.
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 6 2023 22:13 utc | 77
I forget which), one of them pulls a live baby out of the hole and runs with it in his arms past the camera to a waiting ambulance while we all get our hankies wet. You couldn't make it up. Could you?Posted by: B. Wildered | Feb 6 2023 21:54 utc | 75
The baby was remarkably clean, none of the usual post-birth slime and the cord had been cut.
Indeed a miracle. Perhaps the eagerly awaited second coming.
Posted by: Opport Knocks | Feb 6 2023 22:23 utc | 78
Reportedly like 3000 buildings have collapsed in Türkiye alone. Put an average casualties of 20-50 souls per building. You people realize that this is a huge tragedy?
Posted by: Vikichka | Feb 6 2023 22:33 utc | 79
...that world war 3 would probably take place in the middle East.
Posted by: Mark2 | Feb 6 2023 22:13 utc | 79
---
Who would notice?
Lost like tears in rain...
Posted by: Nobody | Feb 6 2023 22:41 utc | 80
You may or may not remember that a few days ago, several western countries were closing consulates in Istanbul because of a supposedly "Terrorist threat".
I guess this is too much of a conspiracy theory to think anything was known in advance, but it is certainly coincidental.
https://tass.com/world/1570733
Posted by: Belle | Feb 6 2023 22:58 utc | 81
dont expect any sanction relief from USrael or the european vassals
expect quiet a few blind eyes and more sanctions
Posted by: brian | Feb 6 2023 23:02 utc | 82
they should consider building with better materials
heres a suggestion:
https://bamboou.com/is-bamboo-a-safe-construction-material-in-natural-disasters-like-earthquakes/
Sebastian Kaminski - Bamboo Buildings in Earthquakes
https://www.betterbamboobuildings.com/home/3rn12lawxv5ouxu9gzzyy3ftdhv051
Posted by: brian | Feb 6 2023 23:06 utc | 83
Posted by: Tannenhouser | Feb 6 2023 19:19 utc | 43
Yes, unedited stream of consciousness posts should be deleted. Use preview, review, proofread, edit, post. You will double the number of people who read you. If I see appalling spelling or bad grammar I ignore on principle. Not a pedant, just can't be bothered reading inarticulate guff.
Posted by: Patroklos | Feb 6 2023 23:10 utc | 84
What a perfect time for everybody's favorite Superpower to show their stuff.
Posted by: Longhorn | Feb 6 2023 23:15 utc | 85
'This would be a good time to lift those sanctions if only for purely humanitarian reasons.' - b
Totally concur. Though plenty of humanitarian reasons to lift those sanctions have existed for years.
Knowing the bloody-minded yankee mentality, though, one would not be surprised to see the Biden jackal government reinforce its illegal US bases in Syria with even more occupation troops, to take full advantage of a tragedy by stealing more oil while its legal owners are preoccupied with higher priorities.
Posted by: Jim H | Feb 6 2023 23:25 utc | 86
Still aftershocks of 5.0+ A whole lot of shaking. Some pictures show sets of similar buildings with one or two completely collapsed while the rest stand without visible damage. Perhaps differences in footings and whether on fill or not.
Posted by: the pessimist | Feb 6 2023 23:27 utc | 87
re: mark2 @ 23
Just saying, both russia, usa and isreal are said to have free energy based "tesla" type weapon systems that can cause earthquakes, extreme weather modifications, volcanic eruptions, etc. Hard to prove this, all this is top secret. I guess, having said this much, I now qualify as being a certified "tinfoil hat" conspiricy theorist.
Posted by: a machinist | Feb 6 2023 23:55 utc | 88
I wonder how much this earthquake disaster and the defects and corruption in the construction industry that might be revealed as a result of the quake and its after-shocks might affect President Erdogan and his cronies in the construction industry. Erdogan's domestic reputation has relied on big infrastructure construction projects financed according to a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) project financing / delivery model (a private entity designs, builds and operates a facility, with grants from the public entity in the form of tax breaks, funding and money to hire people). Should damage reveal the extent to which construction companies connected to Erdogan and his cronies (including his son and son-in-law) ignored or winked at international and national building codes and standards relevant to earthquake-prone regions, Erdogan could face backlash from the Turkish electorate, especially if he were to try to change the Turkish Constitution to enable a third term as President of Turkey before the 2024 Presidential elections.
Posted by: Jen | Feb 6 2023 23:58 utc | 89
Condolences and solidarity with all who are suffering in this huge tragedy.
My fear is that those who feed on "disaster capitalism" will already be planning and organising for the preferred outcomes for the U$A.
Posted by: Engineer-John | Feb 7 2023 0:01 utc | 90
Laguerre #38
"displaced person living in a tent in Idlib"
Try 'terrorist living in stolen property' or anything but whitewash for these misled murderous mob.
Posted by: uncle tungsten | Feb 7 2023 0:02 utc | 91
Coincidentally the Cradle today has an article on the impact of sanctions on Syria.
The mind boggles at the fact that when natural disasters like this one hit, there is enormous satisfaction in places like Westminster, Washington and, of course, Tel Aviv.
What any reasonable person would see as a terrible tragedy is regarded, by those we elect to rule us, as a wonderful opportunity for launching attacks or cutting off desperately needed supplies.
"The impact of western sanctions and the US military occupation of Syria has crippled the nation’s economy and undermined its ability to respond to major natural disasters of this kind. The situation issue pressing that the Middle East Council of Churches issued a demand on 6 February for the immediate lifting of sanctions on Syria so that Damascus can deal with the humanitarian fallout from the tragic earthquake.
"In 1979, Syria was subjected to Washington’s sanctions for the first time when it was designated a state sponsor of terrorism, and banned from exporting goods and technology to the US. This came as punishment for Syria’s support of Iran during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988), leading also to a suspension of financial aid from Persian Gulf monarchies (approximately $1.5 billion annually) and a suffocating economic crisis, known as the “crisis of the eighties.”
"Less than a decade after a short period of economic prosperity in Syria (the net domestic product increased by about 49 percent between 2000 and 2010), the 2011 foreign-backed war was launched, wreaking havoc on the Syrian economy. Widespread damage was inflicted both by the direct destruction of economic facilities and sectors during combat operations, and by a series of US-driven sanctions, which reached their peak with the 2019 Caesar Act and last year’s Captagon Act that targeted Syria’s indigenous pharmaceutical and healthcare industries....."
https://thecradle.co/article-view/21134/syria-under-the-american-whip-sanctions-that-kill
Posted by: bevin | Feb 7 2023 0:24 utc | 92
Jen@91
And who would you suppose is likely to take his place at the head of the largest armed forces in the region?
My guess would be a NAGTO friendly client of the IMF ready to join Israel in making the region safe for imperialism.
Posted by: bevin | Feb 7 2023 0:27 utc | 93
Posted by: Debsisdead | Feb 6 2023 21:55 utc | 76
Personally I find it unwise to advertise the fact that you don't know what you're talking about. Same with Buffalo Ken - at least he's an American who can be guaranteed to be ignorant of anything outside the continental US.
Posted by: laguerre | Feb 7 2023 0:32 utc | 94
bevin | Feb 7 2023 0:24 utc | 94
for all its malarky about freedom and democracy,
USA doesnt tolerate freedom, democracy, independence or disobedience from any state...except israel
Posted by: brian | Feb 7 2023 0:48 utc | 96
So I reckon what is happening could be considered a "test" of Old Farts and whether in the present day they realize that taking care of those suffering is way more important than individual ego. Ego dies hard just like old ideas and this is independent of one's country of origin because none of us got to choose the way we were born, but we do get to choose how we live our lives and how we treat others. We will be judged accordingly I reckon.
~
Some tools are best left unused especially if the wielder does not understand the power of the tool.
~
Please don't cause harm to others is all I ask, but if you want a piece of me - have at it. I fight back in my own ways, but don't harm others seems pretty simple concept, so why is that so hard to understand? Ego dies hard, but die it will. Old ideas that have been proven wrong....they die as well. There is nothing to be gained revisiting old history wrong, but if we can't learn from lessons of the past, then our fate is sealed I reckon - just like the fate of a balloon....
~
I won't engage with trolls, but zombies are abounding these days because so many lies have been told.....and the art of discernment is being lost just like a balloon intended for studying the weather got turned into something false....just another lie on top of so many.
~
I hope wiser minds realize the folks suffering in the earthquake need help and they disregard tempestuous ones full of ego who soon will be gone.
Posted by: Buffalo_Ken | Feb 7 2023 1:10 utc | 97
Sladkov (who has been at the frontline for months, has been unsparing of Russian mistakes in this war, and who is among those insulted by that rancid bag of blubber Martyanov from his safe space in Amerikastan) says:
UKRAINE IS LOSING STRENGTH: THE REASON IS THE MISTAKE IN CHOOSING A WAR STRATEGY WITH RUSSIA. —They Chose the Wrong War Strategy (Article by : Russian journalist Alexander Sladkov)
Ukraine has made many efforts to impose a war of attrition on us. Apparently, Kiev proceeded from the idea that the internal weakness of Russian society meant that it would not be able to withstand a protracted conflict. This was the case when the imposed view of us as a "Russian horde" played a cruel joke on its authors during the planning of combat operations. It is also interesting that, with a high degree of probability, the idea of a war of attrition is Ukrainian, not Western. At least, based on open sources, that is not what the Western colonial bosses wanted.
But how to assess the margin of safety in Ukraine itself? How near is its own exhaustion? Since statistics are obviously secret and there is no intelligible sociology in Ukraine, we can use some visible signs.
In Ukraine, there is another wave of mobilization, again very severe. This time, even those who were able to escape or evacuate to these countries are being drafted by European governments. Millions of Ukrainians who are working there are also being mobilized. Plus, subpoenas have begun to arrive in Ukraine itself (attention!) for boys in the middle school.This is important because the "sacred cow" of the Ukrainian Maidan -- the well-to-do average citizen -- is subject to mobilization. They are the same ones who legalized the Nazi fighters on the Maidan with their presence.
The same one who told us how well he lived in Ukraine, unlike in Donbass. The same one who has not been drafted for all these nine years, and for that he has regularly stated that he does not see Nazis. These are the same people who, at every necessary moment, were led to the cameras of Western TV to show them the understandable face of Ukraine. This is a very important class of people for modern Ukraine. So important, in fact, that even the street Nazi rioters smashed up the cheap alcohol "drinks" in the working-class neighborhoods, bypassing the elite drug houses and gay clubs on Podol... Would they (modern, educated guys) have been drafted if they had an alternative? Of course not.
This is the most important sign that Ukraine is nearing the exhaustion of an irreplaceable resource: manpower. There are many small signs that are noticeable in certain parts of the front. But this one is the most important. As soon as the middle-ranking Kiev managers begin to be captured by us, it means that the crisis in the AFU is really close. From this point on, there is still a little more pressure left.
And plus, the forced "rejection" of mobilizing the western Ukrainian national minorities, for example, the Hungarians, and the expansion of the draft lists in Kiev and in the east of Ukraine because of it are one more blow to the (modern and educated) middle class of Ukrainian society.[Hungary forced Zielensky to stop mobilizing ethnic Hungarians in Transcarpathia; as a result of this, the forced mobilization stopped there, but the AFU started brutal mobilizations in Kiev, Odessa, Dnepropetrovsk, etc.]
We are waiting to see what kind of prisoners will come to us. It will be soon. We have been sowing, growing, preparing, and spending effort for a long time; now it's time to reap the harvest.
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | Feb 7 2023 1:43 utc | 98
My condolences to people of Syria, and Turkiye.
“This would be a good time to lift those sanctions if only for purely humanitarian reasons.” says b.
Sorry b, there is nothing humane about sanctions. They are designed to hurt people so that would overthrow their governments, and are NOT to ever be lifted.
Please recall the case of Iran and c19. Not one sanction was lifted for Iran to have any humanitarian relief. I think c19 was covered enough here for everyone to know that little factoid.
Posted by: Sakineh Bagoom | Feb 7 2023 2:11 utc | 99
Economic damage in the EU must lead to sanction relief.
Posted by: Cadence calls | Feb 7 2023 2:21 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
that is devastating. So tragic, worse is we'll bury our humanity for some imagined political rationale
Posted by: scottindallas | Feb 6 2023 16:01 utc | 1