Jan Suedmersen (Germany) (23-Oct-2011 17:14)
We got third-party information (phone calls from local partners) from the Civil Defense Department, EQ Desaster Management Department in Ankara and the Mayor's Office of the City Van that no international assistance is needed.
Ozgur Monkul (AKUT, Turkey) (23-Oct-2011 15:44)
Information @ 1625
- According to government officials: Building of TEDAS (national electricity agency) collapsed in Celebibag, 10 buildings collapsed in the city center
- National alarm has been set up, Red Crescents respond with 70 personnel
Ozgur Monkul (AKUT, Turkey) (23-Oct-2011 15:40)
Information @ 1539
- Van Airport closed, flights are directed to Erzurum.
- Civil Defense and UMKE (national medical teams) reached the site
- Main damage focusing in Ercis
- Collapsed buildings reported in Bitlis, Bitlis Main Hospital damaged, according to Red Crescents 25 apartments, 1 dormitory collapsed
- Limited Communication
- Damage reported in the city center
Dr Kerem KINIK (Doctors Worldwide ,Turkey) (23-Oct-2011 15:26, updated: 23-Oct-2011 16:19)
In the center of Van Province , 10 building, in the Ercis( distric of Van) 80building were collapsed. In Ercis a prison was detroyed , there were so many prisoners. Also central telecom building collapsed at least two schools and a student dormitory were collapsed.
Jesper H. Lund (FCSS/ESB/OCHA) (23-Oct-2011 14:21)
On 10/23/2011 10:41:21 AM UTC an earthquake of magnitude 7.2 and depth 20km has struck an highly populated area in the Van Province (population: 0.6 million) in Turkey. GDACS estimates the likelihood for need of international humanitarian intervention to be medium (Orange alert).
This earthquake can have a medium humanitarian impact since the affected region is highly populated and has high resilience for natural disasters.
The earthquake 17km from the city of Van. The nearest populated places are Sihke (17km), Iskele (18km), G?lyazi (5km), Er?ek (15km), Adig?zel (10km), Agcaveran (12km). It is a mountainous region with a maximum altitude of 4004 m.
Nihan Erdogan (OCHA) (23-Oct-2011 13:25, updated: 23-Oct-2011 13:40)
The magnitude is corrected by th Turkish national earthquake research and observatory centre as 6.6M. The epicenter is not the city-urban area of Van city. Damages might be expected, situation is being assessed, so far it seems like the situation is not at level of need for additional assistance from abroad. Should there be any need, we will update the VO.
Ozgur Monkul (AKUT, Turkey) (23-Oct-2011 13:14)
a 6.6M Earthquake occured in Van, Eastern Turkey. at 13.41 local hour. Multiple damaged and collapsed structures are reported.
