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| Turkey earthquake: Desperate search for survivors | Turkey earthquake: Desperate search for survivors |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Rescue teams are desperately searching for people trapped under rubble after a strong earthquake hit Turkey's eastern Van region on Sunday. | Rescue teams are desperately searching for people trapped under rubble after a strong earthquake hit Turkey's eastern Van region on Sunday. |
| More than 200 people died and 1,000 were injured in the 7.2 magnitude quake, many of them in the town of Ercis, where dozens of buildings fell. | More than 200 people died and 1,000 were injured in the 7.2 magnitude quake, many of them in the town of Ercis, where dozens of buildings fell. |
| Tens of thousands have been sleeping outside in freezing conditions. | Tens of thousands have been sleeping outside in freezing conditions. |
| The death toll is expected to rise. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been visiting the area. | |
| Turkey is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it sits on major geological fault lines. | Turkey is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because it sits on major geological fault lines. |
| Two earthquakes in 1999 with a magnitude of more than 7 killed almost 20,000 people in densely populated parts of the north-west of the country. | Two earthquakes in 1999 with a magnitude of more than 7 killed almost 20,000 people in densely populated parts of the north-west of the country. |
| The earthquake struck at 13:41 (10:41 GMT) at a depth of 20km (12 miles), with its epicentre 16km north-east of Van in eastern Turkey, the US Geological Survey said. | |
| It was followed by a series of powerful aftershocks, also centred north of Van, including two of magnitude 5.6 soon after the quake and one of 6.0 late on Sunday. | It was followed by a series of powerful aftershocks, also centred north of Van, including two of magnitude 5.6 soon after the quake and one of 6.0 late on Sunday. |
| 'Screams for help' | 'Screams for help' |
| Mr Erdogan has been visiting the affected area by helicopter. | Mr Erdogan has been visiting the affected area by helicopter. |
| He said that villages close to Van were the worst affected as most buildings there were made of clay bricks. | He said that villages close to Van were the worst affected as most buildings there were made of clay bricks. |
| The prime minister thanked other countries for their offers of help but said Turkey could cope with the disaster on its own. | The prime minister thanked other countries for their offers of help but said Turkey could cope with the disaster on its own. |
| Up to 80 buildings, including a dormitory, collapsed in the town of Ercis, about 60km north of Van, while 10 fell in Van itself. | Up to 80 buildings, including a dormitory, collapsed in the town of Ercis, about 60km north of Van, while 10 fell in Van itself. |
| Town mayor Zulfikar Arapoglu appealed for help. "We need urgent aid, we need medics," he said. | Town mayor Zulfikar Arapoglu appealed for help. "We need urgent aid, we need medics," he said. |
| Ambulances, soldiers and rescue teams rushed to the town, a Reuters photographer reported from Ercis. | Ambulances, soldiers and rescue teams rushed to the town, a Reuters photographer reported from Ercis. |
| Survivors complained of a lack of heavy machinery to remove chunks of cement floors that had pancaked on to each other, the Associated Press reports. | Survivors complained of a lack of heavy machinery to remove chunks of cement floors that had pancaked on to each other, the Associated Press reports. |
| Serious damage and casualties were also reported in the district of Celebibag, near Ercis. | Serious damage and casualties were also reported in the district of Celebibag, near Ercis. |
| "There are many people under the rubble," said the local mayor, Veysel Keser. "We can hear their screams for help. We need urgent help." | |
| The head of Turkey's seismology institute said hundreds of people could have been killed. | The head of Turkey's seismology institute said hundreds of people could have been killed. |
| "We estimate around 1,000 buildings are damaged and our estimate is for hundreds of lives lost - it could be 500 or 1,000," said Mustafa Erdik of the Kandilli Observatory. | "We estimate around 1,000 buildings are damaged and our estimate is for hundreds of lives lost - it could be 500 or 1,000," said Mustafa Erdik of the Kandilli Observatory. |
| Turkish seismologist Polat Gulkan told the BBC that building regulations were often ignored in Turkey. | |
| "The enforcement of the code provisions is not at the standard that we would like to see it," he said. | |
| Power cuts | Power cuts |
| Residents of Van and Ercis have been spending the night huddled around camp fires in the open air, fearing more aftershocks. | Residents of Van and Ercis have been spending the night huddled around camp fires in the open air, fearing more aftershocks. |
| Rescuers could be seen working by torchlight, using their bare hands and shovels. | Rescuers could be seen working by torchlight, using their bare hands and shovels. |
| The quake cut electricity and telephone lines and the authorities in some areas have cut gas to avoid the risk of fire. | The quake cut electricity and telephone lines and the authorities in some areas have cut gas to avoid the risk of fire. |
| The BBC's David O'Byrne in Istanbul said more search and rescue teams were being sent from other parts of the country. | |
| Hakki Erskoy, from the Turkish Red Crescent, said aid teams from the north and east of Turkey were being sent to the earthquake-hit area. | Hakki Erskoy, from the Turkish Red Crescent, said aid teams from the north and east of Turkey were being sent to the earthquake-hit area. |
| He said camps were being set up to shelter people and blankets, and that food and water were being sent, along with mobile kitchens. | He said camps were being set up to shelter people and blankets, and that food and water were being sent, along with mobile kitchens. |
| Military aircraft were being deployed to help with the rescue and relief efforts, Mr Erskoy told BBC World News. | Military aircraft were being deployed to help with the rescue and relief efforts, Mr Erskoy told BBC World News. |
| Are you in the area affected by the earthquake? You can get in touch with the BBC using the form below: | Are you in the area affected by the earthquake? You can get in touch with the BBC using the form below: |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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