UPDATE-Turkey to build 'container city' for quake survivors

UPDATES WITH MORE INFORMATION

By Mumin Altas, Ali Korkmaz and Muhammed Boztepe

ANKARA/IZMIR, Turkey (AA) - Turkey has started construction of a temporary housing container city for earthquake victims in the Aegean city of Izmir, the environment and urbanization minister said Monday.

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake hit Turkey's third-largest city on Friday. The death toll has reached 91 as rescue efforts continue.

“Our container city, right next to the wreckage area, will be completed with its infrastructure and social facilities within 20 days,” said Murat Kurum.

The temporary residences for 1,000 people will cover an area of 46,300 square meters in the city’s Bayrakli district, he added.

"Currently, we have a clean and warm guesthouse facility to meet all kinds of food and shelter needs. The capacity is approximately 7,600."

He said that as many as 3,500 tents have been sent to the quake-hit region, and nearly 2,000 of them have been set up for people whose homes are unlivable or destroyed.

He added that at least 220,000 earthquake victims have been served meals with the coordination of the Turkish Red Crescent.

According to data compiled by Anadolu Agency, over 7,900 personnel, 25 dogs, and 1,111 vehicles have taken part in search and rescue efforts.

A total of 38 mobile base stations were established by three different operators in the region to avoid communication glitches.

There are two mobile Social Service Centers affiliated to the Family Labor and Social Services Ministry in the region for quake victims. More than 1,500 people have been helped so far.

A total of 24 million Turkish lira ($2.85 million) was sent to Izmir for aid to the quake-prone region.

Families will receive 30,000 Turkish lira ($3,560) if they cannot get their belongings from demolished or damaged buildings. Homeowners will also receive 13,000 lira ($1,540) if their houses were demolished or damaged, and the tenants will receive 5,000 lira ($593) rental aid.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the government is "determined to heal the wounds of our brothers and sisters in Izmir before the cold and rains begin," and new homes will be built "as soon as possible."

Turkey is among the world's most seismically active zones, and has suffered devastating earthquakes in the past, including the 1999 Marmara earthquake.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar