Turkey buries quake victims

At least 44 people died in Sunday's earthquake

The first funerals have taken place for those killed in a powerful earthquake in Turkey as officials abandoned hope of finding any more victims alive.

I prefer not to go home, I feel safer outside

Quake survivor Senol Gursel

Residents in the devastated town of Sultandagi formed a human chain in order to carry the coffins of six of their neighbours into a hearse.

"We're still living, but it's like we're dead," said one of the mourners.

Municipal vehicles drove through the small town of Cay on Monday morning using loudspeakers to broadcast the names of the 44 dead and the time and place of their funerals.

Rescue off

Turkish officials called off the rescue operation on Monday and soldiers and aid workers have now switched their focus to providing food and shelter for families who spent the night in tents or vehicles in sub-zero temperatures.

Thousands of people have been left homeless.

The quake hit at 0911 (0711 GMT) on Sunday and registered 6.0 on the Richter scale. It centred on the town of Bolvadin in Afyon province, and was felt as far away as Istanbul, 500 kilometres (300 miles) to the north-west.

It was followed by dozens of aftershocks, the strongest measuring 5.3.

'Safer outside'

One village, Eber, has been almost completely wiped from the map. It was home to about 2,000 people. Its houses were built of wood, or straw and mud, and placed on unstable ground. Virtually no structure has been left standing.

A total of 622 buildings have been destroyed by the quake, say officials. The BBC correspondent in Istanbul, Jonny Dymond, says that of those that remain, many are obviously unsafe or an unknown quantity - and some people are too afraid to take the chance.

"I prefer not to go home, I feel safer outside," said Senol Gursel as he joined hundreds of people in line for a traditional Turkish breakfast of tea, bread and cheese at a crisis centre set up at a local school.

Mr Gursel said he had slept in his car while his wife and children bedded down on carpets at the school.

Improved response

The government is still getting aid to the area. Ministers have pledged that more than 7,000 tents and 30,000 blankets will be distributed by the end of Monday.

But local authorities have called for double the number of blankets and stoves and water and food.

Our correspondent says it is clear that the Turkish Government has launched a more organised relief effort than in 1999 when nearly 20,000 people were killed in a series of quakes.

Greece, which historically has tense relations with Turkey, immediately offered to send rescue workers as it did in 1999.

Most of the country lies on the North Anatolian fault and minor earthquakes occur frequently.