State of Emergency Declared for Rapid Operations
This declaration allows the President and cabinet to bypass parliament in enacting new laws and to limit or suspend rights and freedoms as needed. The state of emergency will last for three months, with the possibility of an extension.
70 Countries Offer Help for Search and Rescue
Erdogan also announced that 70 countries had offered assistance in search and rescue operations. Turkey plans to open up hotels in Antalya to temporarily house those impacted by the earthquakes. The death toll in Turkey has risen to 3,549.
