TURKEY: Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan admits mistakes in quake response within the first 24 hours as the death toll exceeds 460

Record ID: 217538

  • Title: TURKEY: Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan admits mistakes in quake response within the first 24 hours as the death toll exceeds 460
  • Date: 27th October 2011
  • Summary: VAN, TURKEY (OCTOBER 26, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HEAVY MACHINERY AT SITE ITEMS OF CLOTHING QUAKE VICTIMS SEATED WITH THEIR BELONGINGS SCATTERED AROUND BOOKS WOMEN SEATED MORE OF CLOTHING IN A PILE (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) UNIDENTIFIED QUAKE VICTIM SAYING "I have lost old friends, acquaintances, my neighbours. I have lost them all. What shall I do now? Even as I am
  • Embargoed: 11th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey, Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Disasters,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2M4A82I0WCZF0L659L08ZTOBT
  • Story Text: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday (October 26) said the latest figures indicated the death toll from the quake that struck mountainous Van province near the Iranian border stood at 461, with 1,352 people injured.
    "Unfortunately, the death toll in the earthquake has risen to 461 with 1,352 people injured, according to the latest information I received before coming here," he told members of his AK Party.
    Erdogan also acknowledged flaws in the government's response in the first 24 hours after the disastrous 7.2 magnitude earthquake shook Turkey on Sunday (October 23).
    "We admit that we failed in the beginning, within the first 24 hours. We acknowledge flaws," he said, but added: "But these mistakes are pretty normal in such incidents."
    This came in response to widespread complaints from quake victims, a great number of whom have sought shelter in makeshift tents made from blankets, suffering from a shortage of aid. Victims urged for food, tents and other aid supplies.
    Turkey was spurred to request foreign aid, including from Israel despite tensions between the two cpuntries.
    The governor of Van province said 3,000 buildings had collapsed or were made useless after the quake adding that the damage was worst in outlying villages.
    He estimated that 600,000 people had been "affected" by the quake, but said that did not mean all needed temporary accommodation. The exact number of homeless remained unclear.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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