AFAD: 644 citizens killed in two earthquakes in Van province

ANKARA (A.A) - November 17, 2011 - Turkish Prime Ministry Disaster & Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) stated on Thursday that a total of 644 citizens were killed in two major earthquakes that hit eastern province of Van. AFAD said that as of 10:30 a.m. on Thursday; 604 citizens were killed, while 222 citizens were rescued in the massive earthquake that hit Van on October 23, 2011. The number of citizens, who were killed in the second earthquake that hit Van on November 9, 2011, was 40, while 30 citizens were rescued alive, AFAD noted. AFAD noted that emergency assistance allocation, which was sent to Van Governor's Office to meet urgent needs of the city, totalled 27.7 million Turkish Lira (one USD equals 1.809 TL) 2,470 quake victims have so far been moved in public facilities, AFAD said. Meanwhile, a total of 215.5 million TL had been collected under aid campaigns which had been initiated with the directives of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Search & rescue and health teams, aid materials and humanitarian assistance were sent to quake region by 169 planes. First earthquake which hit the region was measuring 7.2 on Richter's scale, and the second one was measuring 5.6.