Fear, fury after new quake

Tempers flared yesterday after Southeast Anatolia was hit by another deadly earthquake Nov. 9 that has claimed eight lives and toppled dozens of buildings in the province of Van.

The 5.6-magnitude quake came just two weeks after a killer 7.2-magnitude quake hit the southeastern region and left more than 600 dead.

Frantic search operations continued yesterday as thousands more people were expected to have to spend another night outside in frigid temperatures. New rounds of aid, waves of rescue workers, and thousands of tents have been sent to the new quake zone. (5.6 quake hits eastern Turkey, at least ten dead in Van rubble)

Meanwhile, quake survivors gathered yesterday outside the ruins of the city’s famous Bayram Hotel, where Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay and Van Gov. Münir Karaoğlu, who were in the region to visit victims of previous quake, came to view the aftermath of the new quake.

As the survivors started to shout for the governor to resign, police responded with tear gas and batons. The collapsed Bayram and Arslan hotels were the focus of rescue operations, as the other 25 buildings that fell down had been vacated after the last quake. (Tension rises in quake town)

Part of the reason for the protest was the continued use of the hotels and the lack of assessment reports in the wake of the last quake.

“Who is going to be held responsible for these deaths? The necessary assessment reports were not completed even after 17 days passed. Why were these people let in these buildings?” said Gülten Kışanak, co-chair of the opposition Peace and Democracy Party (BDP).