Turkey-earthquake: The death toll exceeds 48.000

The death toll in Turkey from last month's powerful earthquakes has risen to 48.448, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu announced today, as authorities scrambled to build container cities to provide long-term shelter for homeless earthquake victims.

The total number of people killed in Turkey and Syria has exceeded 54.000.

Speaking at a news conference in Malatya, one of the provinces hit by the earthquakes, Soylu said the death toll in Turkey included 6.660 foreign nationals, mostly Syrians, adding that authorities were still trying to identify 1.615 victims.

The main earthquake and strong aftershocks have injured more than 115.000 people in Turkey while millions have sought shelter in tents or are trying to relocate to other cities.

President Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to rebuild the homes within a year, but it will be many months before thousands of people are able to leave their temporary shelters – and the daily queues for food – and settle into permanent housing.

Soilou said the government plans to set up 115.585 containers for an equal number of families in 239 locations throughout the earthquake-hit area. He said that so far 23 sites have been organized and 21.000 containers have been set up, with 85.000 people living in them.

The minister said that 433.536 tents and 354 points have been set up after the earthquake, adding that within the next 10 days, new temporary workplaces will be provided to businesses.

During a visit on Sunday to Hatay, one of the worst-hit areas, Erdogan said Qatar had committed to sending 10.000 containers, which were used during the soccer World Cup late last year.

Soilou said 36.257 buildings collapsed and 5.321 buildings have been removed, while 6.000 of the 18.219 buildings deemed to be demolished have been demolished and removed.

He stated that the buildings that collapsed and those that were deemed to be immediately demolished correspond to only 25% of the total works, while the remaining 75% concerns buildings that have suffered serious damage and must be demolished.

Source: RES-EAP