International

Nearly 85,000 buildings were destroyed by earthquakes in Turkey

18 février |

Türkiye authorities indicated that more than 84,000 buildings were destroyed or severely structurally damaged by the earthquakes that hit the south of the country and northern Syria on February 6.

The Minister of Environment and Urban Planning of Türkiye, Murat Kurum, stated that 84,726 buildings were affected by the earthquakes that occurred in the country.

He also announced that the government will start planning for the construction of housing for all the people who lost their homes due to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake.

According to Turkish media, the official stated that they have examined around 684,000 buildings, of which more than 84,700 are totally collapsed, in critical condition or in need of immediate demolition.

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The Urban Planning head noted that more than 7,300 personnel have been deployed to examine the situation, and that in Adana province alone there are 148 buildings in this state.

Murat Kurum urged the population to stay away from severely damaged houses and buildings due to the danger of collapse because of the desire to recover their belongings.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this week that construction work will begin on 30,000 houses in early March.

During a meeting with representatives of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the Turkish president said that the goal is to complete the construction of safe housing and buildings by the end of 2023 in the areas affected by the earthquake.

On the other hand, the Turkish authorities reported that the search for survivors, which is still ongoing twelve days after the powerful earthquake, has not yet ended.

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Turkey’s Interior Minister, Süleyman Soylu, raised on Friday the death toll from the earthquakes registered in the country at the beginning of February to 39,672.

“To date, we have lost 39,672 people as a result of the earthquakes,” the official stated, while more than 108,000 were injured.

In addition, the minister indicated that rescue teams and rescuers have carried out 20,000 search and rescue operations in the rubble of buildings destroyed after the quakes.

International

Air Canada suspends JFK flights amid soaring fuel costs linked to Iran conflict

Air Canada announced on Friday that it will suspend its flights from Montreal and Toronto to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport from June through late October, citing rising jet fuel costs driven by the conflict involving Iran.

“Since the beginning of the conflict with Iran, some routes and less profitable flights have become economically unviable, so we are making adjustments accordingly,” the airline said in a statement.

Despite the suspension, the carrier confirmed it will continue operating 34 daily flights from six Canadian cities to New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.

Air Canada expects to resume its JFK operations after October 25.

Meanwhile, Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz amid a temporary ceasefire in the region. However, jet fuel shortages could persist even if the truce holds.

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Fuel accounts for between 25% and 30% of operating costs for most airlines, and carriers worldwide have responded to the crisis by raising fares and suspending select routes due to safety and profitability concerns.

International

UK braces for potential CO₂ shortage amid Middle East tensions

The government of United Kingdom is preparing contingency measures amid fears of a potential shortage of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which could impact the agri-food industry if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, The Times reported on Thursday.

According to the newspaper, officials assessed this scenario during a recent crisis meeting aimed at evaluating the consequences of a prolonged conflict, triggered on February 28 by joint attacks from United States and Israel against Iran.

Under this scenario, CO₂ supplies—primarily a byproduct of fertilizer production using natural gas—could fall by up to 18%, affecting multiple sectors including agriculture and food production.

The gas is widely used in the slaughter of pigs and poultry, as well as in extending the shelf life of packaged foods. Breweries could also face disruptions due to reduced availability.

“I don’t want to comment on a leak, but now that the information is out there, I hope people feel reassured knowing we are working on it,” said Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in remarks to Sky News.

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While a drop in CO₂ supply is not expected to cause major shortages in supermarkets, it could limit product variety, The Times noted, citing access to internal government documents.

To mitigate the impact, authorities are considering prioritizing CO₂ supply for critical sectors such as healthcare and civil nuclear energy, where it is used in cooling systems for blood reserves, organs, vaccines, and electricity generation. The government may also request domestic producers to increase output.

Central America

El Salvador and Paraguay approve 2026–2028 cooperation program

The governments of El Salvador and Paraguay approved the 2026–2028 Cooperation Program, which includes six joint development projects, according to Salvadoran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Adriana Mira.

Mira stated that El Salvador will act as the “main provider of cooperation,” contributing five initiatives focused on road infrastructure, tourism, and local development. She also noted that one of the projects will be led by the Paraguayan side, although no further details were disclosed.

The agreement was reached during the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission on Technical and Scientific Cooperation between both countries.

According to Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the First Meeting of the Political Consultation and Bilateral Coordination Mechanism was also held, with the participation of Vice Minister Víctor Verdún.

In an official statement, the Paraguayan government reported that both delegations agreed to identify mechanisms to promote competitiveness, economic growth, and market access. They also committed to signing agreements related to air transport cooperation.