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Turkey earthquake: Desperate search for survivors Turkey earthquake: Desperate search for survivors
(about 1 hour 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.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 265 people died and 1,140 were injured in the 7.2 magnitude quake, according to Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin.Some 265 people died and 1,140 were injured in the 7.2 magnitude quake, according to Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin.
The city of Ercis was the worst-hit, with close to 1,000 buildings destroyed in the disaster area. Nearly 1,000 buildings have been destroyed in the disaster zone, with the town of Ercis the worst hit.
The death toll is expected to rise further. The death toll is expected to rise as outlying areas are reached.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has visited the area. Rescuers pulled out several survivors from beneath the ruins of collapsed buildings in Ercis on Monday - including one man who called for help on his mobile phone, Anatolia news agency said.
About 970 buildings have collapsed, his office said. Cranes and heavy equipment are lifting slabs of concrete in Ercis and the larger city of Van as rescue crews cut through steel reinforcing bars in the search for more survivors.
The interior minister said he believed dozens of people were trapped in buildings in Ercis but not as many as initially feared.
Every five blocks or so, one building has completely collapsed, so that what was once a seven-storey-high building is now a one-storey-high building.Every five blocks or so, one building has completely collapsed, so that what was once a seven-storey-high building is now a one-storey-high building.
And trapped in between those floors are both the dead bodies of people who were there at the time and also some people still alive who got caught in little safe pockets within the buildings.And trapped in between those floors are both the dead bodies of people who were there at the time and also some people still alive who got caught in little safe pockets within the buildings.
There is an immense rescue effort going on, diggers, cranes, men climbing over the buildings, digging with their bare hands, trying to find people that they believe may still be alive inside.There is an immense rescue effort going on, diggers, cranes, men climbing over the buildings, digging with their bare hands, trying to find people that they believe may still be alive inside.
The big problem at the moment is the cold night. It is very high here, 1,500m (5,000ft) above sea level. It is dropping below 0C (32F) at night, clearly not a place to be sleeping outside under the stars.The big problem at the moment is the cold night. It is very high here, 1,500m (5,000ft) above sea level. It is dropping below 0C (32F) at night, clearly not a place to be sleeping outside under the stars.
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. "There could be around 100 people [in the rubble]," the Associated Press news agency quoted Mr Sahin as saying.
Tens of thousands have been sleeping outside in freezing conditions. "It could be more or it could be less but we are not talking about thousands."
But the BBC's Daniel Sandford, in Ercis, said some 80 people were still missing at one collapsed apartment block, which once contained 20 flats.
Up to 80 buildings, including a student dormitory, collapsed in the town, about 100km (60 miles) north of Van, while 10 fell in Van itself.
The office of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a total of 970 buildings in the earthquake zone had collapsed.
On Sunday, Mr Erdogan visited the area and said he feared for residents of outlying villages that rescue workers had not yet reached.
"Because the buildings are made of mud brick, they are more vulnerable to quakes," said Mr Erdogan.
"I must say that almost all buildings in such villages are destroyed."
Turkish seismologist Polat Gulkan told the BBC that building regulations were often ignored in Turkey.
'Screaming'
Some 2,400 rescue workers are involved in the relief effort, as are 680 medics, 12 rescue dogs and 108 ambulances - including seven air ambulances, the prime minister's office said.
Tens of thousands slept outside in freezing conditions.
"We stayed outdoors all night, I could not sleep at all, my children, especially the little one, was terrified," Serpil Bilici told AP.
"I grabbed her and rushed out when the quake hit, we were all screaming."
One woman in Ercis begged rescue workers to find her friend, buried in a collapsed building.
"She's my friend and she called me to say that she's alive and she's stuck in the rubble near the stairs of the building," the woman told Reuters news agency.
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.
Turkey's Red Crescent has set up tents in a sports stadium in Ercis.
Prime Minister Erdogan thanked other countries for their offers of help, but said Turkey could cope with the disaster on its own.
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.
About 200 aftershocks have hit the region, it added, including one of magnitude 6.0 late on Sunday.
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.
'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.
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.
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."
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
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.
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.
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.
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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