Turkey earthquake: opposition leader says Erdogan is “responsible for this.”

Thousands of people perished in two massive earthquakes in Turkey on Monday, and anger is rising over the government’s perceived lack of preparedness.

The death toll in Turkey has surpassed 8,500 and is expected to increase in the coming days.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the announcement as he arrived in one of the most severely affected regions.

Politically and on the ground, however, anger is growing over the government’s response and preparations.

Many in the worst-affected regions have criticized the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority’s alleged slow response (AFAD).

Tuesday in the southern Turkish port of Iskenderun, Arzu Dedeoglu reported that two of her nieces were buried beneath the rubble. Her family had acquired a digger with their own funds in order to remove the debris, but according to the official, they were not permitted to use it.

Ms. Dedeoglu stated, “We waited until late in the evening, but no one arrived.” “We brought in a caterpillar (digger) with our own funds, but they prohibited us from using it. We have two children buried beneath the rubble: Ayşegül and layda, the daughters of my sister.

“They have left, they have left.”

Ms. Dedeoglu yelled that it was “too late” when the emergency services finally arrived. The family of the missing girls begged rescue workers not to pause for a moment.

“Please don’t leave; perhaps my children are still alive,” their mother pleaded.

While many accuse the government of responding too slowly to the earthquake, others assert that it was not adequately prepared beforehand.

Erdogan is responsible for this, according to Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Turkey’s largest opposition party.

Mr. Erdogan has declared a three-month state of emergency in the ten earthquake-affected provinces. It will conclude just prior to the 14 May elections, in which the 68-year-old will attempt to remain in power for a 20th year.

His primary opposition is the Table of Six, an alliance of center-left and right-wing parties. Mr. Kilicdaroglu is anticipated to run for president.

In a video posted to Twitter, he vowed not to meet the president “under any circumstances” and accused the government of engaging in “PR work” since the earthquakes.

The Turkish government imposed a “earthquake tax” in the aftermath of a massive earthquake that killed more than 17,000 people in 1999.

The estimated 88 billion lira ($4.6 billion; £3.8 billion) was intended for disaster prevention and the expansion of emergency services.

Every time there is an earthquake in Turkey, questions about the “special communication tax,” as the government calls it, are posed. However, the government has never explained publicly how the funds are spent.

Mr. Kilicdaroglu also stated that Mr. Erdogan’s administration “has not prepared for an earthquake in twenty years.”