5.6 Earthquake shook Turkey, 25 Buildings turned into Rubbles
Late Wednesday of November 10, 2011, an unexpected 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit Eastern Turkey and killed numerous people, specifically seven citizens. According to the Prime Minister Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, twenty-three were found alive while seven died during the quake.
Though it was not yet clear as to how many people were trapped under the ruins, but still rescue teams continued to search for possible survivors who were trapped in the debris. At 1923 GMT the 5.6 magnitude earthquake occurred collapsing 25 buildings, 22 of which are empty according to Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Collapsed buildings include two hotels, one of which is a six storey hotel in the Van City centre and occupied by journalists and groups from the Turkish Red Crescent.
According to the US Geological Survey, the epicentre was 16 kilometres (10 miles) south of Van, with its depth given as five kilometres (3.1 miles).
Experts say that a 5.6 magnitude earthquake will not cause any material or personal loss under typical circumstances. Likewise, it is true that Turkey has been accepting help from various countries which includes Israel and Armenia. Turkey is earthquake-prone zone due to being crossed by numerous fault lines.
