Tension rises in quake town

VAN- Doğan News Agency

Health Minister Recep Akdağ and Minister of Energy Taner Yıldız spoke to the protesters before the police intervened. DHA photo

As search operations continued in the quake-hit province of Van, a violent clash occurred yesterday between protesters and police forces at the scene of the collapsed Bayram Hotel.

A group of protesters gathered around the collapsed Bayram Hotel to demonstrate against the governor of Van province in eastern Turkey, Münir Karaloğlu, as he and Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay, Health Minister Recep Akdağ and Minister of Energy Taner Yıldız were preparing to depart the scene following their visit. The group then began throwing stones at the police forces, while shouting chants and calling for the governor to resign.

Approaching the protesters, Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay asked the crowd to listen to him, however when he couldn’t respond to the crowd’s barrage he left the area.

“You won’t listen? Ok, goodbye,” he said.

Police forces responded with tear gas and batons turning the protest into a confrontation. Several people, including health and search and rescue teams were impacted by the tear gas used.