Massive quake strikes Turkey, hundreds feared killed

RT

permalink email story to a friend print version

Published: 23 October, 2011, 17:48
Edited: 24 October, 2011, 06:46

Turkey, Van: An aerial view of the quake-hit Tabanli village in the eastern province of Van. A major earthquake collapsed several buildings in eastern Turkey, trapping an unknown number citizens under debris in Van Province. (AFP Photo / Abdurrahman Antakyali)

A powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Turkey on Sunday collapsing over 80 buildings, and could leave between 500-1000 people killed and many more injured, Turkey’s seismological service says.
To date, 217 deaths have been confirmed by the authorities. According to the country’s interior minister, Idris Naim Shahin, more than 1000 have been injured.
Scores of buildings, including apartment blocks, hotels and a student dormitory were destroyed around the epicenter near the city of Van, close to the Iranian border, with reports also of a prison break-out amid the chaos. Further tremors followed later in the evening, reaching a magnitude of up to 6.0.
“A lot of buildings collapsed, many people were killed, but we don’t know the number. We are waiting for emergency help. It’s urgent,” Zulfukar Arapoglu, the mayor of Ercis district, told NTV broadcaster.
“We are estimating a death toll between 500 and 1,000,” Mustafa Erdik, head of the Kandilli Observatory, told a news conference. The seismological service’s estimate is based on the strength of the quake and the structure of the housing in the area.
Two military C-130s have taken off from capital Ankara for Van, carrying aid and supplies, Hurriyet Daily News reports.
The earthquake was also felt in neighboring Armenia and Iran.
According to the US Geological Survey the epicenter of the tremor was located at a depth of 20km, some 17km from the city of Van in Turkey’s Van province.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is heading to the quake-hit area, Turkish media reports.
Ten countries, including Russia, have already offered their help to Turkey. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said it is ready to send two Il-76 airplanes with humanitarian aid and rescuers.
Israel has also offered its help despite the ongoing tensions between the two countries caused by 2010’s Gaza flotilla raid and the recent expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from Ankara.