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Turkey earthquake: Desperate search for survivors | Turkey earthquake: Desperate search for survivors |
(40 minutes later) | |
Rescue teams in Turkey are continuing to search for people trapped under rubble after a strong earthquake hit the eastern Van region on Sunday. | |
Some 239 people died and 1,300 were injured in the 7.2 magnitude quake, Deputy PM Besir Atalay has said. | |
The city of Ercis was the worst-hit, with close to 1,000 buildings destroyed in the disaster area. | |
The death toll is expected to rise further. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has visited the area. | |
About 970 buildings have collapsed, his office said. | |
Some 2,400 rescue workers are involved in the relief effort, as are 680 medics, 12 rescue dogs, 108 ambulances - including seven air ambulances - it added. | |
Tens of thousands have been sleeping outside in freezing conditions. | Tens of thousands have been sleeping outside in freezing conditions. |
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. | 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' |
Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay, who is co-ordinating the government's response in the earthquake zone, said tents were being assembled and food distributed. | |
Mr Erdogan visited 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. | |
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 worst-hit city of Ercis, about 60km north of Van, while 10 fell in Van itself. | Up to 80 buildings, including a dormitory, collapsed in the worst-hit city of Ercis, about 60km north of Van, while 10 fell in Van itself. |
Its 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." | "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. | 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. | "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. | 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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