Earthquake TURKISH CITY Van struck by second deadly quake

[DUWANA MINADAYA]

Earthquake TURKISH CITY Van struck by second deadly quake

There has been a second earthquake in Turkey in the same region where a more powerful quake killed aound 600 people less than three weeks ago.

This latest tremor, with a magnitude of 5.6, struck south of the city of Van in the east of the country.

Over 100 people have been taken to hospital and at least seven bodies have been found.

Many people are thought to be still trapped under the rubble and around 300 rescue workers are on site with more on the way.

At least seven buildings, including two hotels, have been destroyed with many more structurally damaged.

At least 30 ambulances have been sent to the area from Ercis, the centre of October’s quake some 60 km north of Van.

A crisis coordination centre has been set up in Van and the Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister are reportedly preparing to travel to the stricken region.

 

[DUWANA MINADAYA]

More survivors found from latest Van quake 10/11/2011

More survivors found from latest Van quake

Turkish rescue workers have fought all night to save lives following the latest earthquake to hit the south-east of the country.

At least 25 people have been pulled from the rubble of two hotels which collapsed in Van, notably where foreign aid workers and members of the Red Crescent were staying after coming to deal with the earthquake that hit the same region three weeks ago.

Seven people were killed in the latest quake, and 23 other buildings collapsed, although all but one had already been evacuated.

There are fears that up to 100 people may still be trapped, and there are reports some 70 people were staying in one of the hotels.

Rescue services are being diverted from Ercis, the worst-hit area in the October quake, where thousands of people are still camping outside in winter conditions.

Last night’s quake was only of a 5.7 magnitude, not normally severe enough to cause loss of life, but many buildings in the area have been weakened by the earlier quake, and there are hundreds of aftershocks every day. Over 5000 buildings in Van have been damaged or destroyed in the twin disasters, and an outcry over building standards has begun.

The latest person to be rescued was Miyuki Konnai, a member of a rescue and relief team from Japan. She was seen talking to doctors as she was taken to an ambulance.