Five injured as Van building collapses during demolition

VAN – Anatolia News Agency

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Five people in the eastern province of Van were injured this morning after a five-story building collapsed during demolition work, damaging a nearby pastry shop in which they were present.

Malik Ejder, Ali Ceylan and Saffet Salkım were all rescued from the shop by locals before being transported to hospital.

Two people were also rescued while authorities were conducting a search to ensure that no other people remain trapped beneath the rubble.

A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Van on Oct. 23, 2011, followed by repeated aftershocks. Some 604 people were killed, another 4,152 were wounded and thousands were rendered homeless by the earthquake.

Since then, the city has been shaken by many minor earthquakes, leading to demolition orders for many damaged buildings.