Death toll from aftershock in eastern Turkey reaches 22

[News_Editor]

Death toll from aftershock in eastern Turkey reaches 22

2011-11-12 03:18:33 GMT+7 (ICT)

VAN, TURKEY (BNO NEWS) -- The death toll from a moderate aftershock which struck eastern Turkey on late Wednesday evening has risen to at least 22, officials said on Friday. Dozens more were injured.

Rescue work has been ongoing since the latest earthquake, and Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Administration (AFAD) said the death toll from the aftershock stood at 22 as of late Friday afternoon. At least 30 people have been rescued from the debris.

Among the fatalities is Dr. Atsushi Miyazaki who was pulled out of the rubble of a hotel some 13 hours after Wednesday's earthquake. Rescue workers performed CPR at the scene and transported him to a hospital where he later died. Miyazaki was part of a three-member team from Japan's Association for Aid and Relief which had responded to last month's earthquake.

The 5.6-magnitude aftershock happened at 9.23 p.m. local time (1923 GMT) on Wednesday and was centered about 16 kilometers (9 miles) south of Van, the capital of the province which carries the same name. It came just over two weeks after a powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the same area, killing more than 600 people.

Wednesday's earthquake collapsed as many as 25 buildings in the region, including two hotels where journalists and aid workers were staying at the time. It added to more than 3,700 buildings which collapsed as a result of last month's earthquake.

While many residents of Van have left the region, those who remain have complained about the government's relief efforts as winter snow has begun to fall. Some have been forced to face the harsh winter weather and sleep outside due to a lack of tents and temporary camps.

On Thursday, more than 200 protesters gathered in the city, demanding the removal of Van Governor Münir KaraoÄŸlu. Police forces were deployed and fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, which has questioned the government's safety assessment of buildings damaged by the earthquake.

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