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| DEATH TOLL CLIMBS | |
 August 19, 1999 
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Rescuers believe their time is running out, as more than two days have passed since western Turkey's violent earthquake. The United Nations estimates that more than 30,000 people remain trapped. --Posted 2:00 pm EDT |
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The death toll from Tuesday's massive earthquake in western Turkey
continues to climb towards 7,000 as rescuers begin to fear that time
is running out for those caught in collapsed buildings.
"Rescue work is very sensitive," said Prime Minister Bulent
Ecevit. "If not done carefully, while saving one life you can lose
10." In addition to the thousands missing, some 33,000 others have been
injured, according to the Turkish government. "Helplessness" the national Sabah newspaper blared on its
front page. "The people are helpless, the state is helpless, we
can't even find a place to put our dead." But there are some stories of hope among the misery. Seven people were rescued from the damage by guiding rescuers to them
by using their cell phones.
Rescue teams now say with each passing hour, the death toll will continue
to rise. In Izmit, one of the hardest hit cities, an Austrian team moved
from building to building with sniffer dogs, finding no one. They fear that most of those trapped may have already died due to lack
of water. The Turkish government and the Red Cross are asking for contributions
to their relief funds. Those interested may contact the Red
Cross at 1-800-HELP-NOW or send money to the embassy's relief fund
account. Riggs Bank NA |
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With
6,800 confirmed dead and thousands more believed trapped in the mountains
of rubble, over-stretched Turkish and international rescue teams continue
to use sniffer dogs to locate people. Once found, freeing survivors from
the devastation without endangering others has proved difficult.
In
Derince, near the epicenter, a married couple was rescued 40 hours after
the quake, as their bed rested above them. Though they feared it would
fall, the bed instead shielded them from falling debris until help arrived.