Deadly earthquake hits eastern Turkey
14:36 - 24 October 2011
Kurdpa - A powerful earthquake has hit eastern Turkey near the city of Van, less than 100 kilometers from the border with Iran. The U.S. Geological Service said the earthquake measured 7.3 on the Richter scale and was centered some 19 kilometers northeast of Van.
Areas in Iran and Georgia also reported feeling the earthquake. Up to 1,000 people are feared dead in a powerful earthquake in eastern Turkey, according to initial estimates.
Turkey\'s Kandilli Observatory said the death toll could be between 500 and 1,000. At least 35 buildings are reported to have collapsed.
The earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.2, struck in the Van province near the Iranian border on Sunday. The epicenter was below the village of Tabanli, near the city of Van.
\"The quake was strongly felt in Van and neighboring towns and caused damage and deaths, based on initial assessments,\" the Turkish prime minister\'s office said.
\"There are so many dead. Several buildings have collapsed. There is too much destruction,\" Zulfikar Arapoglu, the mayor of Ercis, told NTV television. \"We need urgent aid. We need medics.\"
Serious damage and casualties were reported in the district of Celebibag. The mayor, Veysel Keser, told NTV: \"There are many people under the rubble. People are in agony, we can hear their screams for help. We need urgent help.
\"It\'s a great disaster. Many buildings have collapsed, student dormitories, hotels and gas stations have collapsed.\"
Some houses collapsed in the province of Bitlis, and in nearby Mus the quake toppled the minarets of two mosques. NTV said Van\'s airport was damaged and planes were diverted to neighboring cities.
Rescue workers and residents using their bare hands and shovels struggled to free people believed to be trapped under collapsed buildings, television footage showed.
The Turkish government is refusing international rescue operations to enter the Kurdish areas.
Earthquakes are frequent in Turkey. In 1999, about 18,000 people were killed by two powerful earthquakes that struck north-west Turkey. Authorities blamed shoddy construction for many of the deaths.
Areas in Iran and Georgia also reported feeling the earthquake. Up to 1,000 people are feared dead in a powerful earthquake in eastern Turkey, according to initial estimates.
Turkey\'s Kandilli Observatory said the death toll could be between 500 and 1,000. At least 35 buildings are reported to have collapsed.
The earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.2, struck in the Van province near the Iranian border on Sunday. The epicenter was below the village of Tabanli, near the city of Van.
\"The quake was strongly felt in Van and neighboring towns and caused damage and deaths, based on initial assessments,\" the Turkish prime minister\'s office said.
\"There are so many dead. Several buildings have collapsed. There is too much destruction,\" Zulfikar Arapoglu, the mayor of Ercis, told NTV television. \"We need urgent aid. We need medics.\"
Serious damage and casualties were reported in the district of Celebibag. The mayor, Veysel Keser, told NTV: \"There are many people under the rubble. People are in agony, we can hear their screams for help. We need urgent help.
\"It\'s a great disaster. Many buildings have collapsed, student dormitories, hotels and gas stations have collapsed.\"
Some houses collapsed in the province of Bitlis, and in nearby Mus the quake toppled the minarets of two mosques. NTV said Van\'s airport was damaged and planes were diverted to neighboring cities.
Rescue workers and residents using their bare hands and shovels struggled to free people believed to be trapped under collapsed buildings, television footage showed.
The Turkish government is refusing international rescue operations to enter the Kurdish areas.
Earthquakes are frequent in Turkey. In 1999, about 18,000 people were killed by two powerful earthquakes that struck north-west Turkey. Authorities blamed shoddy construction for many of the deaths.
