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'10,000' trapped in Golcuk

The town's mayor, Ismail Baris, has announced that as many as 10,000 people could still be trapped in rubble. The total population stands at 80,000.

Golcuk, home to one of Turkey's largest naval bases, is one of the most devastated areas as it straddles the faultline.

Turkey's military and civilian rescue teams have been completely overwhelmed by the scale of the operation. Rescue teams from Russia and Israel have arrived but not a moment too soon, say correspondents.

The BBC's Chris Morris says that some shattered sites remain untouched.

He says that on every street, apartment blocks have crumbled into dust. The barrack buildings in the naval base have been flattened.

Anger

And amid the ruins of Golcuk, the shock of the disaster gave way to anger.

Some residents complain that rescue efforts appear to be focused on the collapsed buildings at the naval base, where more than 200 military personnel, including some top commanders, are still reportedly missing.

Officials said that only 20 bodies had been recovered and as many injured.

But residents were angry. "Who is helping us?" cried an old woman standing before a toppled home where she said neighbours and family members were buried.

Grief-stricken

Oges, a factory worker, whose wife child and brother were buried inside a building, cried: "Allah! Where are they? Where are they?"

Men held their heads in their hands, crying at the sight of photographs and clothing poking through the rubble.

One man - scratched and covered in dust - had dug in vain through the debris for five hours to try to get to his wife and children.

Relevant Stories

Your experiences of the Turkey quake (18 Aug 99 | Europe)
Race to find quake survivors (18 Aug 99 | Europe)
In pictures: Quake devastation (18 Aug 99 | Europe)
Turkish fury over shoddy housing (18 Aug 99 | Europe)
Turkey's rude awakening (17 Aug 99 | Europe)
International community rallies round (17 Aug 99 | Europe)

Internet Links

Turkish Daily News
US National Earthquake Information Centre
Global Earthquake Report

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