News Wrap: Blinken visits Turkey, pledges more disaster aid after quakes

John Yang:

Good evening. I`m John Yang. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Turkey tonight for a firsthand look at the devastation from the earthquakes that hit the region nearly two weeks ago. Blinken took with him a U.S. pledge of an additional $100 million in disaster aid to help the country rebuild.

Words of consolation for the Turkish foreign minister before the two headed out on a helicopter tour of the destruction in southern Turkey.

Antony Blinken, Secretary of State: It`s really hard to put into words you see buildings still standing and then buildings collapse. The search and rescue, unfortunately is coming to an end to recovery operation is on and then there`ll be a massive rebuilding.

John Yang:

But that rebuilding effort can`t start until mountains of debris are cleared away. Tens of thousands of buildings were destroyed. And that work is slow as bulldozer operators sift through debris for bodies hoping to give grieving families a sense of closure.

Akin Bozkurt, Bulldozer Operator (through translator):

It`s very important for our people to have a grave. A family says find a piece of them so we can have a grave.

John Yang:

Nearly two weeks after the quake`s hit, the death toll is still climbing and workers are finding fewer and fewer signs of life under the rubble. And an untold number of people are still unaccounted for.

In Syria aid has been slow to arrive and held up at the border. Some families have banded together.

Muteiah Shehada, Earthquake Survivor (through translator):

Before we were four families in one house. Now we are some 12 families. We uncover ourselves to keep them warm. We offer them anything we can. Our home didn`t collapse. It was just damaged. Thank God.

John Yang:

The World Health Organization estimates 26 million people urgently need help with shelter, medicine and psychological support. Survivors in both Syria and Turkey experienced enormous trauma. 17 year old Taha Erdem thought he would die beneath the rubble.

Taha Erdem, Earthquake Survivor (through translator):

I think this is the last video I will ever shoot for you. I am dead if I am not wrong.

John Yang:

His family was trapped nearby.

Zeliha Erdem, Earthquake Survivor (through translator):

When I was under the rubble, I was yelling Taha, Taha, neither my voice was going across to Taha nor was Taha`s voice coming across to me.

John Yang:

All the Erdem children survived, but many others did not. One activist honored them with balloons.

Ogun Saver Okur, Activist (through translator):

I wanted this activity to be called my last present to children. Every time we try a balloon my heart hurts. We have tried 1,000, 1,500 balloons so far, but we will hopefully continue until we reach all parts of the city until we reach every home of the children who lost their lives.

John Yang:

Balloons are for the living too that this humanitarian camp young survivors played with volunteers this weekend and learn to cope with all they`ve lost.

In the nearby Syrian capital of Damascus state media says that Israeli airstrikes on residential areas have left at least five people dead and more than a dozen wounded. The strikes destroyed several apartment buildings and left a gaping crater in a street. Emergency responders comb through the rubble for survivors.

There`s been no Israeli comment but Israeli has previously acknowledged targeting Iranian backed militant groups in Syria.

In Memphis, Tennessee, one person is dead and 10 others injured in a pair of overnight shootings. Police believe the two incidents are connected. No arrests have been made but police have identified several persons of interest.

Memphis is the city still on edge after last month`s fatal police beating of Tyre Nichols and the incident adds to the mass shootings across the country in recent days. Six people were killed and one injured in rural Mississippi on Friday. Three students died and five were injured on Michigan State University`s campus Monday night.

Michigan State resumes classes tomorrow despite some calls for delay, and actor Richard Belzer has died. Belzer began his career as a stand-up comedian but he became better known as the wisecracking TV police detective John Munch on Homicide Life on the Street and Law and Order SVU.

Man:

You had one hell of a run Sergeant Munch.

Richard Belzer, Actor:

Did I? I don`t know where it all went.

Man:

My friend.

John Yang:

Richard Belzer was 78 years old. Still to come on "PBS News Weekend," the selling of personal data collected by mental health apps, and a conversation with the coach of the last remaining swim team at an historically black college.