The authorities in Turkey now say the official death toll in last week's massive earthquake now stands at almost 13,500. More than 27,000 people were injured. The lake resort of Sapanca, north of Adapazari, has been hit by 8 aftershocks. Houses and hotels have been buried in 20 metres of water and debris. Unofficial figures estimate the quake may cost Turkey up to £5 billion.
The Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has again defended the official response to the earthquake. In a BBC interview broadcast last night, Mr Ecevit said that the total breakdown in telecommunications transport and electricity supplies had made the delays of the first 48 hours unavoidable, he added that no government would have been able to cope in these conditions. He admitted that although mistakes had been made the relief operation was now working effectively and that, the government still had the support of the people.
