Survivors of Turkish ’quake wait for relief

Press, 29 November 1976, Page 8

Survivors of Turkish ’quake wait for relief

NZPA-Reuter Ankara Thousands of Turkish earthquake survivors lay in shallow trenches huddled together for warmth under makeshift tents of blankets on the bleak eastern plateau yesterday waiting for relief workers.

A correspondent. Mengu Cengel. reported that the rocky scrubland and the rubble of devastated mud and stone villages was occasionally relieved by bright patches of colour.

Close inspection showed that these were shallow depressions dug out of the earth covered by bright rugs and blankets to make temporary shelters for survivors of Wednesday’s earthquake disaster.

Officials estimate that 4000 people died in the earthquake. But with rubble still uncleared, isolated villages still not surveyed, subzero night temperatures and unconfirmed reports of children dying of exposure there are to fears that the toll may be higher.

A series of minor tremors on Friday brought down damaged walls and caused a fire in Muradive, the apparent centre of the earthquake. The ravaged communities lie between 1000 and more than 2000 metres above sea level across the hilly Anatolian Plateau which borders Iran.

I The high ground is already carpeted with snow and the hardy Kurdishspeaking fanners with their small herds of cattle, sheep and goats and sparse cultivated patches of wheat were preparing for winter when their homes crumbled in 14 seconds of destruction. Their major concern now is for water and shelter. Food stocks can be salvaged and most of their livestock escaped injury.

Relief supplies were flowing into the remoter areas from the provincial capital of Van south of the stricken area.

West Germany sent an advance group of aid workers to Turkey to prepare for the arrival of a 360-man unit equipped with 15 ambulances. Tlie team includes 20 doctors.

The United States is bringing in an airport system designed to handle a plane load of aid an hour. Iranian aircraft have been bringing in blankets and food and other help has (been sent by Britain. Sweden, Switzerland. the (Netherlands and Greece. In the north - western Iranian province of Azerbaijan six people were killed and eight injured in an earthquake last Wednesday, Radio Iran said on Friday. There were reports of 1000 homes Levelled.