Turkey quake toll surges to 576
Updated at: 1026 PST, Saturday, October 29, 2011
ERCIS: Rescuers Friday pulled a 12-year-old boy from the rubble of Turkey's earthquake after being trapped for 108 hours, as the death toll in the disaster rose to 576.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) meanwhile announced a multi-million euro appeal for help for quake victims, expressing concern about the wintry conditions they were facing.
The end of Ferhat Tokay's ordeal gave fresh hope to rescue crews who have been working round the clock in sub-zero temperatures, but concerns deepened about the plight of survivors.
Hopes of finding more people alive in the rubble had been fading fast before the rescue of 18-year-old Imdat Padak late Thursday, followed a few hours later by Ferhat.
Both were saved from the ruins of the worst-hit town of Ercis, where scores of buildings collapsed.
Television footage showed a rescue worker shading Ferhat's eyes as he was brought to the surface to protect him from the floodlights used by the emergency teams.
Both of the young survivors were rushed to a field hospital in Ercis and later airlifted by helicopter to nearby hospitals for further treatment, media reports said.
Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay said Friday emergency crews went on to work on nine different sites in Ercis either to help survivors or find bodies, Anatolia news agency reported.
According to the latest update from the government's emergency service, 187 people have been pulled out alive from the debris.
The unit said that a total of 2,608 people had been injured by the 7.2 magnitude quake which ripped through eastern Van province. (AFP)
Turkey quake toll surges to 576 - GEO.tv
