‘Thousands’ buried under rubble in Turkey quake: IFRC

GENEVA: The Red Cross said Tuesday that hundreds or even thousands of people remain buried under the rubble after a devastating earthquake that killed at least 366 people in eastern Turkey.

“The situation in eastern Turkey continues to be very serious,” said Jessica Sallabank, spokeswoman for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
“Hundreds, possibly thousands of people are still trapped under the rubble,” she added.
There is no official count of missing people at the moment, said the aid agency.
Assessments indicate that 2,256 buildings — mostly apartments – were destroyed during the quake, the IFRC said, quoting Turkish Red Cross data.
“With regional temperatures dropping below freezing at night, the distribution of blankets, hot food and heaters is a critical priority,” it added.
Some 6,377 tents have been distributed in the quake-affected region.