Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit urged calm as the death toll continued to rise following the earthquake disaster.

In an initial statement broadcast by national TV following a government crisis meeting, Mr Ecevit said people shouldn't panic in the face of continuing aftershocks.

"I conferred with Prof Ahmet Isinkaya, the director of the Kandilli Observatory. He said the major tremor was behind us and that aftershocks are expected to continue.

"He advised people not to enter damaged buildings and to wait for the aftershocks to subside.

"In addition, people should not panic, because people get injured when there is panic."

'Extensive damage'

Three hours later, Mr Ecevit left another crisis meeting and warned waiting reporters that he was in no position to pass on good news.

"There is extensive damage in Yalova and Golcuk according to the information we received. It has been determined that the damage is not extensive in Eskisehir and Bursa.

"There is serious damage, however, in Istanbul, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Golcuk and Yalova. Lives have been lost in these regions. Some of the deaths were caused by panic."

He announced that the country's parliament would go into recess, to enable ministerial visits to the stricken areas.

"It was decided that it was appropriate to have the Turkish Grand National Assembly go into recess for one day because the ministers and deputies will feel the need to visit the disaster regions. I, for my part, will leave for Kocaeli."

Naval base hit

Mr Ecevit came before the cameras again shortly before leaving by helicopter for Istanbul, and revealed that a naval forces base in Golcuk had been badly hit in the disaster.

"A total of 248 people are still under the rubble and 24 people were rescued alive. Unfortunately, 20 bodies were found. Rescue work is under way.

"There was a transfer of duties ceremony yesterday in Golcuk, and admirals and naval commanders were present at the ceremony. Most of them spent the night in Golcuk. This is another unfortunate coincidence," he said.

He added that offers of help had been received from around the world.

"Japan, for example, will send us all kinds of help ... Switzerland, France, Germany and Britain have offered us help as well. I extend my gratitude to all of them."

The prime minister warned the death toll was likely to increase once the rubble was lifted.

He said: "There may also be more people found alive under the rubble. I wish our entire nation a speedy recovery."

Meanwhile, President Suleyman Demirel looked forward to the healing process that would follow the disaster.

"Our state and nation will heal the wound of this disaster in the shortest time. May God protect us from a similar or worse disaster," the president told the nation.

Source: BBC Monitoring Caversham 17 Aug 99