Transcript of: Death toll soars after Turkey quake
NATALIE MORALES, anchor:
Dozens of people are still trapped in the rubble this morning in eastern
Turkey
where a devastating 7.2 magnitude quake has killed hundreds so far.
NBC
's
Michelle Franzen
is in
Mus
,
Turkey
, with more.
Michelle
, good morning.
MICHELLE FRANZEN reporting:
Well, good morning,
Natalie
. The earthquake struck in the
Lake Van
area closest to the Iranian border, but it was felt several hours away including here in
Mus
. The lake area is very remote and surrounded by mountains and also dotted with small villages and towns and the place where rescuers are now in a race against the clock and cold weather to find survivors. This morning, the frantic search for earthquake survivors intensified in southeast
Turkey
, and a dramatic rescue in hard-hit
Ercis
as a toddler is pulled from the rubble. Amateur video shows the terrifying moments when Sunday's major quake hit. So far throughout the region there are at least 200 deaths and more than a thousand injured. Hundreds are still unaccounted for, many believed to be still pinned beneath the rubble.
Unidentified Man:
The situation is really bad. Many of our friends and relatives are still trapped under the rubble. We haven't heard from any of them.
FRANZEN:
In
Van
, an ancient city of one million, the quake has already claimed the lives of 100 people and flattened dozens of buildings, including a university dormitory. Reports of victims calling for help were heard overnight, but rescue efforts were hampered by darkness and freezing temperatures. Using what equipment they had and digging with bare hands, workers moved chunks of concrete to reach victims, including this scared 10-year-old boy. Along with the desperate search for victims, thousands are seeking shelter. Aid workers have set up 4,000 tents in a nearby stadium in
Ercis
and food and blanket and other aid is pouring in from around the world. The last time a major quake hit
Turkey
was in
1999
, that's when two quakes hit the northwest region, killing 20,000 people. But rescuers are -- say they are hopeful, even after 24 hours since this quake first struck, that they will find more people alive and be able to pull them from the rubble.
Natalie
:
MORALES:
Michelle Franzen
in
Mus
,
Turkey
. Thank you,
Michelle
.
“ ”