The situation in rebel-held northwest Syria is described as “tragic” and “permeated with the smell of death” by the Syrian Civil Defense group, which is appealing for donations of search and rescue equipment.
“The situation is tragic in every sense of the word. Unfortunately, hundreds of families are still under the rubble,” volunteer Asim Al-Yahya said, according to a tweet from the group, which is also known as the White Helmets.
As rescue efforts cross the 72-hour mark, “there is a great shortage of search and rescue equipment,” he added.
“The situation is tragic in every sense of the word. Unfortunately, hundreds of families are still under the rubble. As the 3rd day of the earthquake enters, there is a great shortage of search & rescue equipment.”#WhiteHelmets volunteer Asim Al-Yahya#Syria #earthquake pic.twitter.com/NWDTmQW01r
— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) February 8, 2023
In a separate tweet, the White Helmets said “death hangs over the neighbourhoods of Salqin”, a town west of the city of Idlib. “The smell of death is everywhere,” it said.
Death hangs over the neighborhoods of Salqin, west of #Idlib. The smell of death is everywhere.
— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) February 8, 2023
A number of #earthquake victims have been recovered in the city of Salqin, west of Idlib.#Syria pic.twitter.com/CnxKuV5FyY