Death toll in Turkey continues to climb, further aid sent

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2011-10-26

The death toll in Turkey’s 7.2-magnitude earthquake has risen to more than 360, with 1,300 people injured, according to official figures, while aid to the stricken region is being increased.

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Turkey’s disaster management authority said Tuesday that some 970 buildings had been demolished in the quake, leaving thousands without shelter.

The government has said 12,000 more tents would be delivered to the cities of Ercis and Van and also to nearby villages in the hard-hit eastern region.

Search and rescue efforts are ongoing with the army joining more than 1,200 search and rescue teams.

The cold and lack of shelter has become a major problem in the region as survivors spent a second night out in the open.

Facing some criticism over the government’s response, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay promised late Monday that “from today there will be nothing our people lack”.

The reality in and around the hard-hit cities of Van and Ercis appears to remain quite different, with tents, water and food in short supply.

"Tents will not be enough - we do not have food, no rescue teams have reached here yet," said Serif Tarakci, an official from the village of Halkali, about 50km (30 miles) from Van.

On Monday, rescue and relief efforts appeared to be gathering momentum in the region.

More than 2,300 emergency personnel were in the region, Atalay said.

Two tent hospitals were being set up in Ercis on Sunday, and two cargo planes were dispatched from the capital carrying medical teams and aid.

The earthquake struck at 13:41 (10:41 GMT) on Sunday at a depth of 20 kilometres (12 miles), with its epicentre 16 kilometres 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.

The United States, European Union, Iran, Israel and other Middle Eastern nations have indicated their willingness to provide assistance should Turkey request it.

Source: Europe News.Net

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