Europe Quake rescuers race against time Rescuers use their bare hands in the frantic search for survivors Rescue efforts have been continuing throughout the night in a race against time to rescue people buried beneath collapsed buildings after a powerful earthquake struck north-west Turkey. Millions of people in the region, the most heavily populated in Turkey, have been spending the night in the open, frightened that further aftershocks will bring more devastation.
Correspondents say the death toll is likely to rise dramatically.
It has also appealed for international help in locating and rescuing survivors still stuck in the rubble. Offers of help have been pouring in, with Turkey emphasising that the greatest immediate need is for trained rescue teams. Israel, Germany the United States, Britain and Russia are sending groups of experts in search and rescue, and sniffer dogs. Survivors attempted to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed houses, with many using their bare hands to tear away the debris. Moments of triumph, such as when a toddler was lifted from ruins, apparently uninjured hours after the quake and passed to the arms of his father, provoked applause from watching crowds.