New quake strikes Turkey

A strong earthquake struck eastern Turkey last night, less than one month after more than 600 people were killed by a quake in the same region.

Last night’s 5.7-magnitude quake toppled 25 buildings in the city of Van, most of which had been evacuated following the earlier disaster. However, at least seven people were killed when three occupied buildings collapsed, and dozens more remain missing. Twenty-five people have been rescued alive from the ruins.

“Due to the weather conditions at the area—it is still cold—we are welcoming the pre-fabricated houses for the people who lost their houses,” said Cenk Kalflagu, at the Crisis Management Desk of the International Red Crescent Society in Ankara. “They can’t stay for a long time in the tents… So now the pre-fabricated houses can be the best solution to contribute to relief efforts.

He spoke about the ongoing challenges to relief work: “There are still aftershocks taking place. . . When the people are faced with existing aftershocks, they are scared to go back to their houses and that’s why we have to send more transitional shelters to the affected people.”

Listen to the full interview of Cenk Kalflagu with Christopher Wells: