As many as one thousand people are feared dead after an earthquake on a scale of 7.2 hit villages in the South Eastern region of Turkey.
According to the US Geological Survey the earthquake occured at 1340 local time on Sunday (1040 GMT). It completely ruined 50 apartment buildings, including a dormitory in the city of Van as well as in the neighboring town of Ercis. About 1,000 buildings have collapsed.
"We are estimating a death toll of between 500 and 1,000," said Mustafa Erdik, head of the Kandilli Observatory. The seismological service's estimate is based on the strength of the quake and the structure of the housing in the area.
Offers of assistance and expressions of sorrow have poured in from many countries. Armenia and Azerbaijan were amongst the first countries to offer assistance. Russia, European Union member states and NATO have also offered help.
source: commonspace.eu with agency reports
photo: Residents of Tabanli village try to rescue people from buildings demolished in the earthquake (picture courtesy of Todays Zaman)
