Turkish president calls earthquake victims in Bingol

By Bestami Bodruk, Fecri Barlik, Mehmet Siddik Kaya Abdullah Celik and Bulent Temiz

BINGOL, Turkey (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called earthquake victims in Bingol province early Monday and wished them a speedy recovery.

One person was killed and 18 were injured after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake hit the province on Sunday.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority said the quake struck Karliova district at 5.24 p.m. local time (1424GMT).

Vice President Fuat Oktay, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum arrived in the province to supervise the relief efforts.

Oktay in a statement said damage assessments would be completed in three days.

He said the situation could be easily overcome and that Elmali was among the villages most effected by the earthquake.

Oktay stated that several homes, schools, animal shelters, public housing units and a police station were heavily damaged and some were demolished.

He said all of the country’s aid agencies were currently at the scene, including the Turkish Red Crescent and Disaster and Emergency Management Authority.

Oktay said tents and warm food were being distributed to residents.

More than 1,300 tents were delivered to the region and officials say everything is under control in the affected villages and towns.

It was later confirmed that the village guard who was trapped under the wreckage was martyred in Kaynarpinar.

The Interior Ministry said 26 vehicles and 109 health and rescue personnel were sent to the region.

Two military aircraft are on alert if any further help is needed, said the statement.

Bingol is surrounded by mountains and numerous glacier lakes and has recently become a popular tourist destination.

Tremors were also felt in neighboring provinces including Erzurum, Trabzon, Erzincan, Kars, Batman, Diyarbakir, Siirt, Mardin, Elazig and Malatya.