people out from the rebels, alive as long as they can. but the buildings, the number of the floors in a building, these are all factors that are affecting the rescue workers work and the safety of the people who are trapped right now under those buildings under those rebels. and some say that thousands of people are trapped. we don't have any figures on how many people are trapped under those buildings. but i have been saying since the morning that each hour in each hour that is passing by the tragedy, the reports about the tragedy and cut this roof seem to be increasing. it's going to be a long and arduous journey ahead trying to get to all of those areas. thank you so much that send them coffee only who's and assemble for us. well, for the viewers who just joining us, let's recap this breaking news story. more than 500 people have been killed across

to kia and syria after a magnitude 7.8. earthquake to key is reporting more than 280 deaths. as daybreak rescue is searching for survivors or the death toll and syria already stands at $230.00. the trim lasted a minutes causing hundreds of buildings to collapse cyprus and live on in so felt the earthquake recently joined us, alive from sustainable now and obviously it's pretty cold. we use that condition to even worse in the area that's affected by this earthquake. that's right. isn't it that's, that's correct. so it is coming in a very critical time in turkey, both regarding the weather and also regarding the poll because the last month in the country. so the country around 80 days later is going to have a general election which is going to determine which party or the coalition is

going to form the majority in the parliament and also who is going to be the next president or 30th. so in that sense, it is quite important. so, and it is live must have for the current government lab. why present ad one? because the economy in the country is already struggling and the prizes are going higher and higher, while the new inflation is around 80 percent. so in that sense, it is quite critical for the government, and many of the ex 30 agrees that this is going to be the most difficult election for president ad want to our kids for the carrier. and on the other hand, of course, it is an opportunity to be seen by the opposition in the country as well, because the management of this crisis is going to be determinative. they performance, both governments and the position is going to be determined if it's in the elections that are going to be how in may 14th. so the good, now the government is say that it has mobilized all of the means. and the capital

realty is that the company has to go, man, so organizations are not mobilizing all of their boards and also civil society. several other rescue sensors, civil society opposition, all the government. they are now joining hands by hands and trying to help the areas that have been hired that had that. i mean, he's a heart of this. so one of the important aspect of the earthquake is, is that the majority of the cities that have been hit hard, this are the kurdish majority cities in the southeastern or turkey like we are about good over my life and the, i'm on. so the curve is, was in the upcoming elections, are going to be quite critical in terms of determining who will re and so in that sense, it is quite important that the government performed well. otherwise a failure could cause prison. i would want to his party dearly. so now we can see

that there are some of already that could criticize criticism over the government and saying that the government didn't take proper measures. many of there's collab building were all that they've been past the earthquake past, and the certificates were not why the pro, for me over turkey is not a stranger to the earthquakes of the disaster to the why 5. so through the time, particularly the author, the 1919999. when that happened, very close to a sample that was also $7.00 magnitude at that time up there that there that the government and the parliament had several bills over the position in the country says that the government did not abide by that bill. and by the regulation, so this is the criticism over the government football and the other hand, the way that the government is going to handle the aftermath of the quick it's quite in for them. so the governments need to be quite fast because it's winter,

it's extremely cold here by the beginning of the week. a cool wave has the country, and major cities of this turkey are under snow, particularly south eastern or the country is now. we've seen that the weather that are below 0. so really the government, the able to through why abilene makes is how the, for those who have been affected by the workers will people have proper access to the house system. and also having humanitarian. this is at least for the next couple of months as the weather is quite to talk here, as i said. so this is a very critical, more in terms of the weather conditions and also politically as well. but turkey through the time has the ability to capabilities to handle such a disaster. but as i said, a few days, almost 80 days to the election. and there are no home the people that more than 2000 people already injured and hundreds of their building called last. probably

several people feel under the rubble. and now the leader of the physician in turkey says that's now it's not time for the criticism, but for the corporation and also try to heal all wounds. all together, wrestle, you mentioned in the one that governments already being criticized. can you explain exactly what for and with that criticism, is, is coming from us of justice, political opponents quote, particularly after the earthquake in 999. that was in, in his mid, very much a city that much close to stumble and thousands of people have died in the earthquake houses of the building have called left and simply after that the experts will talk. you have figured out that the majority of the buildings that were called last didn't pass the earthquake past. the house of the kids would not

give improperly based on the expertise based on the find facts. and so one and so also that the government, the parliament by that time passed several lows, regulate in the building the construction standard in the countries. and also several areas in several city in the country had been determined to be controlled, to be pulled up by the, by the government control. and to be relieved all of that. some of the major districts as well. although the criticism here is that there's an ad, one of these governments, they have in rudy over the country over the last 2 decades. and the position says that the government did not advise by that rules and by that, by, by that regulation. so that's why the majority of the building that's called love during the way that happened today are the all buildings that were supposed to be

called on to the control of the government a long time ago. so that is the main criticism for them are on the other hand, the said that there are long government in many major cities. they have bills, the kaisers natural disaster management. and then monday, the overseas across the country, vice president for the country. and whenever there is a natural disaster, such as wildfire or any mind bless or the earthquake, they're quite quick to, to, to more allies, the rescue teams and the vehicles, the necessary condition to provide help the people and also turkeys how the system has formed remarkably through the last 2 decades, so in that sense, you and some of their houses have in effect that through the, the, through the earthquake field in the neighboring cities that are major hospitals that are providing the how to these people. however,

the government is being criticized or not by the by the rules by the regulations that have you pass through the parliament 1999 after the major earthquakes that killed pauses of people by that time. okay. bristol, so to thank you so much, russell for us from assemble. well, the you, including germany has just announced that it will seem to rescue teams to, to kia and syria, to aid in the search and rescue operation. and the white house is also reacted to the earthquake national security advisor jake sullivan says the us is profoundly concerned. adding washington stands ready to provide assistance. he said that president biden has directed you with aid and other federal government partners to assist response options to help those effective than the youth will continue to monitor the situation in coordination with the government of to kia. well, it's spring and live and coolant from secaria tick. here he is

a professor of earth sciences at this university. thank you very much for being on al jazeera fissile. what's your initial reaction to some of the images and the video that's coming through from the worst affected areas? did you ever expect to see damage this bed as well as this wide spread? yes, al closure. i like page best my on those are as well as charity and people because the number of casualties last a live has a little exceeded 500 and some of them and some of them in syriac and despite unexpected. okay. magnitude have him claimed or is that burton major 8 and this is the largest since 1999 now is mit okay.

tonic structure of this region as well known as electro. about 6 years ago we studied in detail. we carried a scientific investigation of distribution and b, triple junction is 3 place going today, the islands region, which we call my right to the junction. and major balls such as it is summer, told him both, and the dead sea poles joined together in much region in this triple junction. and the fashion seismic potential to seizure was better than i. and there is a little pat is part, was identified as a mac, get the western portion of the east. and i told you know, both the,

the expecting and majors all the magnitude kalen, which appeared unfortunate early this morning. knowing what we know about the area and the fault lines in the area. i mean looking at some of these pictures of, of completely collapsed buildings. was the building code good enough for that region and could more have been done with talking to wrestle, sit around, correspondent and assemble, saying that criticism is already coming in. that the government hadn't prepared the regions well enough for an earthquake like this. actually, in terms of the laws, then the building codes and the turkish court was the latest one was passed in 2019 and it says,

and then a good called comparable to us japan european codes are there were the application of that called might be and may pose a problem specially some of the old buildings which do not comply with that code are bought in the book and some of the new ones. and that up to because bill while notable and at least from the damage that there are quite a few buildings, we can build properly with engineering expertise and complying with the call spends. we now gain the damage and they were quite the appeal of the buildings have been collapsed to be beaten in terms of regulations be

home and we had it up today and building codes are there when the application of that called dr. turkey. and we'll take some time just looking at some of the, the live pictures that, that are coming to me were watching. now you see, you know, many search and rescue teams picking through the rubble. some of them underneath huge slabs of concrete. we know that there have been dozens and dozens of lodge off to show just how dangerous is it for these people to be trying to find survivors. and are we expecting aftershocks to continue? especially large ones, continue doing damage. yeah, yeah. the certain the search and rescue teams are conducting a job. and is there a dangerous job? because as you know, the counselor so after shops will occur after such

magnitude stayed in plain or ok. and those after shops will continue for months for years. and the largest ones would be as high as $6.00 is only once explained 5 up to shot little kids right up the pages. so those have professionals or surgeries in teams and they take it to protect themselves or whatever it is it really mangers task, but they're great. okay, thank you so much for your time and also your expertise that is live in colon from professor of is sciences at secaria university. thank you. chris elders is a structural geology expert at christian university. he explains why this is quite

was so powerful a case of this magnitude occur perhaps every 4 or 5 years, something like that. and of the sea occurring in places by the large population. they can have quite a devastating effect. and i think it's other important point 5, this quite that occurred at a relatively shallow depth depth and about 17 kilometers. that sounds quite that means that the energy that's released by the earthquake will be felt close to the, to the surface from much greater intensity than if it was deeper across the have been a large number of aftershocks immediately after this of making facts about half an hour after the 1st of the was the 2nd one very close by all similar size, which must be very worrying for the people who were just coming to terms with the initial uh quite since the main of weight was being about 15 or 16 uh, quite over

a distance about a 10200 kilometers all along a big salt line which caused this lake. and those have been of magnitude for all 5. so it is still a very, very large, significantly smaller than the, the main event. and in a situation like this, where you have a larger, quite the aftershocks can continue for several days, several weeks. maybe even several people will continue to feel the effects of earthquakes for, for some time in this area. ah, well we're going to go to other news now and at least 5 palestinians have been killed by israeli forces during a right near the city of jericho, israeli forces to the ark about job a camp on monday morning. several people including a senior hamas official, were arrested. well, there are reports that ukrainian defense minister is to be replaced by the head of

military intelligence. alexi risen coff has come under increasing pressure after his ministry with tainted by a corruption scandal involving food contracts. on sunday, risen a cough commented on his possible dismissal will have to press it. where should i? when i entered public service for the 1st time in 2014, i was then the secretary of the key of city council. and i made at the told everyone that no official is in his chair forever. the decision to be the minister defense or not is made by one person, according to the constitution, is the commander in chief and the president of the country flooded me. lensky will do. my crimes president says he expects a major russian offensive in the coming weeks. and his nightly address on sunday followed him. is lensky said moscow is increasing pressure on several fronts. ahead of the 1st anniversary of the war on february the 24th. where the battle full control of the eastern city of bock mart has been intensifying with russia

deploying more troops, zane beth rob reports from the capital case. ukrainian soldiers defending buck boot enter the fray, knowing they are out numbered, and more russian fighters are on the way. but what is the major flash point on the eastern front right now? ukraine's president has promised he won't let the city fall without a fight. but for a lot of me resilience give may also be preparing his people for a worst case scenario that there is to sort of, she knew who in the course of 346 days of this war. i often had to say that the situation at the front was stuff and that the situation was becoming tougher reach . it is once again that trying to keep their ukraine's army says it gun down as many as 200 russian mercenaries from the wagner group in a recent attack. but russian forces are gaining ground as they push to surround the

city. the worry for keep, now russia could be close to successfully cutting off the main highway into the city. currently ukraine's main supply line that could be a decisive moment in the battle for buckman. russian missiles are also hitting more civilian targets along the eastern front. air strikes and car keys hit a university and the residential walk. recently there was a strong blast and everything happens so quickly. we were saved by the furniture that fell on us because of that we are alive. she's only lived in car keith, a few months homeless and displaced for a 2nd time. during this war. the siege of buck, mood has emptied out the city. but some refused to leave, seeking refuge in prayer, woman who from the 1st floor most i know there is a chance i might die last night itself into my garden. all the vendors were blown

out, boots lin, to my house this morning. it will have to keep me in the head. our life is fleeting . they will die in any case. now or in 2030 years. it is not important. the main thing is i present myself to god's lives like those jumped when necessary. i pray for our country, for all ukraine, for my children, for my family, for all ukrainians, for all i pray. oh, but will ukrainian lines remain as unbreakable as their faith? both likely to be tested in coming days, as russian forces escalate? their campaign for bomber 30 zane basra, the older 0 keith. this is on a group of prominent pro democracy figures has gone to court and hong kong and the largest, if a trial under the controversial national security law imposed by china. the defendants are legislators, politicians, activists,

and community workers who were arrested 2 years ago and charged with conspiracy to commit subversion. the challenges a linked to their participation in an unofficial primary election held in 2020, which it can be has more from hong kong. well this is certainly a big deal. the hong kong is really not being a, probably a try like this for the last 2 years under so many cove at 19 restrictions. but here we have some of the most high profile democracy activists in hong kong standing trial across the cross section of society for young activists is a very well known internationally like joshua wong, through to form a lawmaker and well known legal scott. as you can see behind me, this school is the police outside the building, marshalling the tendency from what is actually quite a large number of activists to come out despite previously facing bands on gathering. and because of cobit 19 rules, there is now people waving union. jack black's behind me is a long queue of people sneaking around the court house. now the cobra 1900 rules

have been somewhat east in hong kong, is an opportunities people to come out and show their voice again. and this is a patient about this trial because many of those arrested i've been detained for the entire period since the arrest was made 2 years ago. and so have not been seen or heard from since during a time when most of this democracy activism in the city has effectively closed up completely after the major political reforms that have taken place in votes. now being counted in ecuador, constitutional referendum, and local elections, the national referendum was proposed by president gil m a law. so to battle a crime wave and address environmental issues, the opposition has been urging voters to reject the proposals. authorities have 10 days to count the ballots and announce results. so the sandra ron p a t has more from kito. elections. officials are counting the votes of sundays election in ecuador, but they also said that this will be a long process. that early projections show that

a majority of what dorians could have voted in favor of the constitutional referendum that the president proposed to try and deal with many a social, political, and security crisis. this can, is going through this election was seen in many ways as a referendum on the administration of the very unpopular president to get more lasso. and if indeed in the end, a majority will have voted in favor of this referendum. this could be major political, a victory for the president, one that he needed, given the fact that he has a support of less than 20 percent and haven't been able to push any of the reforms that he promised when he came into power in 2021 especially saying so he's dealing with an austin congress. his party only has 13 of 137 seats in congress.

we're going to return to the breaking story that we've been following this. our more than 500 people have been killed across to kia and syria after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the countries the shallow trimmed with scented in south eastern to kin. well, for more on this, we are now joined by them, concealed his monitoring developments from assemble. can you just bring us up to date with some of the damage that has been done to the infrastructure like the a ports and i know a number of health facilities including hospitals had been damaged as well as roads . can you just give us an update on how widespread the damage has been while the situation in the region is pretty dire right now. let me 1st start with the weather conditions as, as since saturday to gaze under heavy snow and wind and rain even from a stumble and a capital longer flights to the region have been canceled since last night. so it

has been difficult for the a plains to take from a stumble, a force as of this morning, for instance, we learned from the turkish officials that the a port in god's dance up and call her mom or i shall have been shut down for civilization for a while, we don't know how for how long it is, but the civil civil plans will not be able to fly. as of this announcement has been made. also, we learned from the officials, officials that 2 hospitals, one in a hotel and one in its scan. the room has been having collapse. a hotel is one of the cities that has been heavily hit by the 7.8 earthquake. also, the natural gas pipelines in got a got down to about to call her mom, marsh have been damaged. and as for the vice president, for the oxide, it may take days to repair those pipelines, natural gas pipelines in those to sit in. and these are the infrastructure damages

that have been reported so far. but as the time passes, we may hear and new damages on the infrastructure, because still everything is very fresh. the earthquake happens at 4 am in the morning local time and many cities, 10 cities. and plus the epicenter of pas have been affected by this earthquake. and which a, which means that, which means a very big geography, which means a lot of people, many people in the region. and because some of the cities like down to malott's. yeah. the booker is, are the biggest cities of a central care, which means within time, of my tear more damage reports, especially as the aftershocks are continuing around, a 6.6 magnitude with her in the last couple of hours,

that assistance is coming from a u. and us, and we understand that her day ascending search and rescue teams as shortly that a cinema casino li for us from a stand bow. well, just to update you on our what we know at the moment to magnitude 7.8 earthquake has struck the south eastern region of turkey at currently 284 people have died and took here. and syrian medius is about 240 people have been killed then. well i, we will have more on the story on the other side of the spray. aah! this is one of the most astounding that logical revolutions in all of history make our planner great. the day we have to meet the c o 2 emission targets lecture casa

major, met in motion. the need to be mind to where people are just talking about wind and solar sake that's going to solve the problem. it won't, the world of business and commerce is driving energy transition is the promise of clean energy and illusion. the top side of green energy on al jazeera from the al jazeera london, rural car center, t people in thoughtful conversation. people use the lowest category and they describe the outsider with no host and no limitation. the difference between a migrant and refugee is truly a choice. when you are refugee, you are forced to flee part one of asthma on and hasn't had what has happened a lot in the west is that culture and food is separated. hudy b unscripted on out his new era. the wind blows, the fishing boats home as it has for the countless centuries people have lived here . these are malagasy migrants they move from the drought written self in such

a means to survive. and their story is the interface between climate change and biodiversity laws. the arrival of the migrants is adding to the precious on fish, dogs and marine by diversity, already stretched by over fishing. and this is going to happen all over the world. is impacts like sea level rise, cause people to move further and further in learn, putting more pressure on environmental resources for people fleeing the impacts of global warming. it's survival at all costs. ah, until mccrae, this is al jazeera live from to ha with breaking news coverage. more than $600.00 people off it did after a powerful earthquake shakes the south eastern region of to kia and northern syria . many of those killed were in syria.