Epress.am News from Armenia
In the last 14 hours, the tremors from the earthquakes on Sunday and Tuesday in Turkey’s eastern region of Van have somewhat lessened. Unlike the previous night, when international seismic services recorded around 100 tremors, last night the number of tremors were twice reduced in number. Furthermore, the strength of the tremors also decreased — they were mainly magnitudes of 2.6 to 4.0, sometimes reaching 4.3.
According to official figures, the number of casualties has reached 481, and there are 1,650 injured.
Search and rescue work continues.
Beginning yesterday, aircraft from various countries have begun to arrive in Turkey, bringing various forms of humanitarian aid.
Criticism of the government’s response to the initial quake continues to be a hot topic in the Turkish press. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, however, has rejected such criticism, admitting only short-lived mismanagement in the initial stage.
“There was really a failure in the first 24 hours. We admit that. But there should be a margin for error in such big disasters. The Red Crescent sent 15,379 tents. In fact, that should have been more than enough. But unfortunately the situation went out of control,” Erdoğan said, reports the Hurriyet Daily News.
“The situation is now under control and all the debris will be cleaned very shortly, and there will be planning for a new Van as well as a new urban development in Erciş,” the prime minister said in reference to the district that was worst hit by the earthquake.
Note, Erdoğan, along with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, is preparing to visit Van at the end of this week.
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