Death toll from Van earthquake stands at 461
Death toll from Van earthquake stands at 461
Turkey will accept offers of aid from foreign countries to cope with the aftermath of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake, officials say.
Officials now say they are in urgent need of housing. Some 2,000 homes have been destroyed.
The death toll from the disaster stands at 461 people, with some 1,352 others injured.
On Wednesday, emergency workers rescued a 27-year old woman alive nearly three days after she was trapped in a collapsed building.
On Tuesday night an aftershock is said to have sparked a riot in Van prison.
Eyewitnesses said flames and smoke billowed into the night sky and shots were heard.
The riot at the prison is said to have begun when a strong aftershock of 5.4 magnitude caused panic among the inmates.
According to some reports, prisoners set fire to the jail and fought their guards because authorities refused to let them out.
The jail was promptly surrounded by police forces while angry relatives gathered outside trying to find out what was going on.
Speaking outside the prison, BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) Van deputy Aysel Tuðluk said people wanted to know what had happened.
"From what we heard, prisoners in the jail asked permission to get some air, naturally, after an aftershock, because they were concerned.- she said - When they couldn't get permission, they reacted and fire broke out in the jail. That's what we were told. But we heard gunshots with our own ears and learned that police fired tear gas."
Officials now say they are in urgent need of housing. Some 2,000 homes have been destroyed.
The death toll from the disaster stands at 461 people, with some 1,352 others injured.
On Wednesday, emergency workers rescued a 27-year old woman alive nearly three days after she was trapped in a collapsed building.
On Tuesday night an aftershock is said to have sparked a riot in Van prison.
Eyewitnesses said flames and smoke billowed into the night sky and shots were heard.
The riot at the prison is said to have begun when a strong aftershock of 5.4 magnitude caused panic among the inmates.
According to some reports, prisoners set fire to the jail and fought their guards because authorities refused to let them out.
The jail was promptly surrounded by police forces while angry relatives gathered outside trying to find out what was going on.
Speaking outside the prison, BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) Van deputy Aysel Tuðluk said people wanted to know what had happened.
"From what we heard, prisoners in the jail asked permission to get some air, naturally, after an aftershock, because they were concerned.- she said - When they couldn't get permission, they reacted and fire broke out in the jail. That's what we were told. But we heard gunshots with our own ears and learned that police fired tear gas."
