This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-15668071
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Turkey earthquake: Van hotel topples, killing five | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A 5.6-magnitude earthquake has killed at least five people in eastern Turkey, and trapped many more under collapsed buildings. | |
| About 20 buildings have collapsed, including a six-storey hotel in the city of Van, where dozens of aid workers and journalists were staying. | About 20 buildings have collapsed, including a six-storey hotel in the city of Van, where dozens of aid workers and journalists were staying. |
| The quake late on Wednesday was centred 16km (10 miles) south of Van. | |
| The same region was struck last month by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake which killed more than 600 people. | The same region was struck last month by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake which killed more than 600 people. |
| That earthquake struck a little north of Van but the city became the headquarters of the relief effort and has been flooded by aid workers and journalists, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul. | That earthquake struck a little north of Van but the city became the headquarters of the relief effort and has been flooded by aid workers and journalists, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul. |
| The city was only lightly damaged, but some of the weakened buildings are now thought to have been brought down. | The city was only lightly damaged, but some of the weakened buildings are now thought to have been brought down. |
| 'Text messages' | 'Text messages' |
| Television pictures from Van showed residents and rescuers trying to lift debris to free people trapped under ruined buildings. | Television pictures from Van showed residents and rescuers trying to lift debris to free people trapped under ruined buildings. |
| Rescue workers were using high-powered lights to work through the night. | Rescue workers were using high-powered lights to work through the night. |
| Parliamentary member Nazmi Gur said most of the buildings which collapsed were empty, but three had been occupied when the quake struck at 21:23 (19:23 GMT). | Parliamentary member Nazmi Gur said most of the buildings which collapsed were empty, but three had been occupied when the quake struck at 21:23 (19:23 GMT). |
| He said emergency teams were focusing on rescuing some 50 people believed to still be trapped. | He said emergency teams were focusing on rescuing some 50 people believed to still be trapped. |
| Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay said the quake toppled a school and a number of mudbrick homes, as well as the hotel. | Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay said the quake toppled a school and a number of mudbrick homes, as well as the hotel. |
| He said rescue teams were being sent to the region from the capital, Ankara, and other areas. | He said rescue teams were being sent to the region from the capital, Ankara, and other areas. |
| Some of the journalists trapped in the collapsed Bayram Hotel had sent text messages to colleagues asking to be rescued, Associated Press quoted a Turkish cameraman as saying. | Some of the journalists trapped in the collapsed Bayram Hotel had sent text messages to colleagues asking to be rescued, Associated Press quoted a Turkish cameraman as saying. |
| Alper Kucuk from the Turkish Red Crescent told the BBC that 11 people had been rescued from the rubble of the hotel. | Alper Kucuk from the Turkish Red Crescent told the BBC that 11 people had been rescued from the rubble of the hotel. |
| Mr Kucuk said the Red Crescent was sending two more planeloads of relief supplies to the area, including tents and blankets, as well as rescue personnel. | Mr Kucuk said the Red Crescent was sending two more planeloads of relief supplies to the area, including tents and blankets, as well as rescue personnel. |
| He described it as the biggest aftershock to hit the area and said it had frightened a lot of people. | He described it as the biggest aftershock to hit the area and said it had frightened a lot of people. |
| Thousands of people were made homeless by the 23 October earthquake, with many still living in tents in the cold weather. | Thousands of people were made homeless by the 23 October earthquake, with many still living in tents in the cold weather. |
| Mr Gur said many people are now leaving Van in search of a safer place. | Mr Gur said many people are now leaving Van in search of a safer place. |
| 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. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the earthquake? You can contact the BBC using the form below: | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the earthquake? You can contact the BBC using the form below: |