Another quake
November 10, 2011
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck in eastern Turkey late Wednesday, toppling two hotels, an apartment complex and at least 20 other buildings.
Rescue workers rushed to the scene in the Edremit district, some 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Van, where a magnitude 7.2 quake hit on October 23, killing 600 people.
Turkish media have reported that some 26 survivors have been pulled from the rubble of the hotels and the apartment building, but at least eight people were killed. Several dozen remain trapped, they said.
A Japanese aid worker was among the dead, but his colleague Miyuki Konnai was rescued alive from the rubble. The two were part of a relief team sent to Van from Japan following the quake three weeks ago.
Chaotic atmosphere
The Bayram Hotel in Van had remained intact following the earlier quake, with some cracks and a damaged elevator. But it succumbed to Wednesday's tremor, injuring a number of people.
Scenes from Turkish television showed a chaotic atmosphere as rescue workers searched by floodlight for victims overnight.
Voices of some people trapped under the rubble could be heard calling for help.
Fortunately, 22 of the 25 buildings to collapse in Wednesday's earthquake were empty, having been damaged in the October termor.
Author: Matt Zuvela, Joanna Impey (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)
Editor: Martin Kuebler