Death toll rises to 115 in İzmir earthquake

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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The Interior Ministry's Disaster and Management Authority (AFAD) has released a statement regarding the recent situation in the wake of the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit the Aegean on October 30.

The Authority has announced that the death toll of the İzmir earthquake has reached 115. Having announced the magnitude of the earthquake as 6.6, the AFAD has also indicated that 2,846 aftershocks, 46 of which were over 4.6, have shaken the region since the major quake.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the Health Disaster Coordination Center (SAKOM) has also announced that 1,011 of 1,034 wounded citizens have been discharged from hospitals.

23 people are reportedly still in treatment.

On the other side, Murat Kurum, the Minister of Environment and Urbanization, said yesterday (November 8) that 342 buildings in the western city have been destroyed or heavily damaged, 3,660 are slightly damaged and 383 moderately damaged. Nearly 14 million Turkish liras (~1.6 million USD) in financial aid have been provided to the affected so far, he added.

As a temporary solution, thousands of tents have been set up in the region whereas a "container city" (temporary housing units resembling shipping containers) is also being constructed.

Turkey is among the world's most seismically active zones, and has suffered devastating earthquakes in the past, including the magnitude 7.6 Marmara earthquake in 1999. (TP/SD)