By STAFF Writer
October 24, 2011
TURKEY EARTHQUAKE NEWS - A 7.2 magnitude earthquake had hit yesterday in eastern Turkey near the Iranian border in the province of Van at 1:41 p.m. local time. There were at least 200 aftershocks after the quake, said the website of Kandilli observatory and Earthquake Research Institute.
It is learned the tremor was 3 miles below the surface. According to officials, about 1000 people is feared to be dead. Government officials said about 4000 homes may have been damaged due to the strong earthquake, biggest in the province since 1976 that killed 3,840 people. Most severe earthquake was seen in Turkey in 1999 which killed at least 17,000 people.
Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a state television address, "Just as we re-established other regions hit by earthquakes, so will we get this place back on its feet... We are not going to leave people to their own devices in the winter cold."
Before his address Erdogan visited the earthquake hit area to oversee the rescue efforts.
National disaster body based in the prime minister's office briefed in a statement, "There is serious human and material loss."
Electricity is cut throughout the province. Lanterns are being used by people to rescue victims.
In a television footage one man shouted, "My wife and child are inside! My 4-month-old baby is inside!"
Mayor of Celebibag, Veysel Keser told NTV, "Many buildings have collapsed, student dormitories, hotels and gas stations have collapsed."
Telecommunication services have been collapsed and people are in panic by not being reached to anybody.
The initial measurement was 7.3 magnitude by US Geological Survey. Later it downgraded it to 7.2 magnitude.
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| Turkey Earthquake Pic |
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| Turkey Earthquake Pic |
October 24, 2011 | 0
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