28 Oct 2011

Man rescued 100 hours after quake

11:02 am on 28 October 2011

A man has been pulled alive from the rubble more than 100 hours after the earthquake in eastern Turkey.

The rescue on Thursday was from a flattened block of flats in Ercis, the town hardest hit by the earthquake on Sunday afternoon. Aydin Palak, 18, was taken away in an ambulance.

The BBC reports he is in hospital, and said to be in good condition.

At least 523 died as a result of the magnitude 7.2 quake which had its epicentre in Van province - 185 people have been rescued alive.

Some 1650 people are known to have been injured. Hundreds of people are still missing under collapsed buildings.

South-eastern Turkey was hit by another strong aftershock on Thursday of magnitude 5.2, but there are no reports of any further casualties.

The BBC reports rain and snow are hindering the rescue effort and worsening conditions for those made homeless.

Tents and other aid supplies are being delivered after some initial criticism that the response was too slow.

Provincial governor Munir Karaloglu says 20,000 tents have already been distributed and he blamed fear for exacerbating the problems.