A major international relief effort is under way to help the victims of the latest Turkish earthquake. The death toll has risen to 362 and more than 2,500 people have been injured, in what was the second earthquake to hit the region in three months. At least 300 buildings were destroyed in the north western province of Bolu, and many more people are believed to be trapped under rubble.
Survivors spent the night outside in freezing conditions. Turkish television has issued urgent calls for blankets for survivors. Eleven planes carrying foreign rescue teams are en route to Istanbul. Five are from Greece, four from Israel and one each from Britain and Italy.
The quake measured 7.2 on the Richter scale. Its epicentre was in the town of Duzce, on the main road between Ankara and Istanbul, 115 miles east of Istanbul - the same area where some 17,000 people were killed by an earthquake in August. Duzce is about 150 miles from Bursa where the Republic of Ireland is due to play Turkey in the Euro 2000 qualifying match next Wednesday.
US First Lady Hillary Clinton arrived in the Turkish capital, Ankara today for a visit overshadowed by yesterday's powerful earthquake in the north west of the country. President Clinton is due to join his wife and daughter in Turkey tomorrow, ahead of a European security summit that organisers say will go ahead despite the devastation wrought by the earthquake.
