Earthquake in Turkey
Claire Berlinski, Ed. ·
Oct 23, 2011 at 5:06am
There's been a 7.3 magnitude earthquake near Van, in the southeast of Turkey.
I know too much about what that number means.
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Feb '11
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
Hope the destruction and injuries are limited.
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
They won't be.
I know everything that happens after you see that headline.
Nov '10
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
I'm so glad that you checked in right away, Claire. In the past, my reaction to something like this has been, "Oh no--an earthquake in Turkey. How sad! Many will die. I'll say a prayer." This morning it was, "Claire Berlinski!!"
My prayers go out to the Turkish people this morning as they assess their losses.
Feb '11
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
Magnitude reports vary: 6.6 (Turkish), 7.6 (US). Buildings collapsed and 50 injured - so far.
Edited on Oct 23, 2011 at 5:56amJun '10
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
Thanks, Claire, for letting us know you are okay. My first reaction, when I saw the news, was to come here to make sure you are good.
Feb '11
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
“There are so many dead. Several buildings have collapsed, there is so much destruction,” Zülfikar Arapoğlu, mayor of Erciş, told NTV television. “We need urgent aid, we need medics.”
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
Layla: I'm so glad that you checked in right away, Claire. In the past, my reaction to something like this has been, "Oh no--an earthquake in Turkey. How sad! Many will die. I'll say a prayer." This morning it was, "Claire Berlinski!!"
My prayers go out to the Turkish people this morning as they assess their losses. · Oct 23 at 5:28am
The epicenter was very far from here--almost on the Iranian border.
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
Video footage. Many reports of building collapse, including the expected--student dormitories. Expected because buildings like that are structurally vulnerable.
May '10
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
Claire, I turn on the news radio as soon as I get up every morning. I thought of you immediately. Do you or Okan have friends/family out that way? It will surely be a terrible, tragic disaster.
Jan '11
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
Claire, Do you know of any good relief charities in Turkey? As a Catholic, my default for international disasters has been Catholic Relief Services but I don't know how welcome the Catholic Church is in Turkey. As a Californian who's lived through some big quakes and seen the destruction I know Turkey & possibly Iran are going to need help.
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
My thoughts and prayers are with the injured and the families of those killed. My one source of consolation this morning is that you, Claire, are safe. My prayer is that you stay that way.
Dec '10
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
I immediately thought of you, Claire. I'm so relieved to know you are well. As a Californian who was in Candlestick Park in 1989 ready to see my first World Series game when the Loma Prieta quake hit I have an inkling of what this means to the poor Turks.
May '11
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
We had a 6.4 here in Tokyo when the big one hit up North in March, it was a real shaker, lots of minor damage, but Tokyo is built for it, each 0.1 up the scale doubles the strength of the quake so a 7.3 is a LOT more than we had, almost 8 times larger, I know that would have resulted in more damage in Tokyo, I can only cringe at the amount of damage it would cause in an area that does not build for such things.
Stay Safe Claire.
Oct '10
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
It's good to know that Claire is safe. It's odd, but having Claire active on Ricochet makes me feel closer to Turkey in general. Given what Claire has taught us about the state of civil engineering in Turkey, an earthquake like this is going to be very destructive with substantial causalities. The scope will largely depend on the size of urban areas that were impacted.
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I don't think financial donations will help right now, as well-intentioned as that thought is. There will be a huge outpouring of donations in Turkey--the issue in the short term isn't going to be money, but coordination of the rescue effort.
This is the poorest part of Turkey, and it's been the object of an incredible amount of aid. This is, not to put too fine a point on it, the most hopeless, screwed-up part of Turkey. And that's saying something.
May '10
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
this is too awful to take in.
What is happening in the world?
Mar '11
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
FX Meaney: Magnitude reports vary: 6.6 (Turkish), 7.6 (US). Buildings collapsed and 50 injured - so far. · Oct 23 at 5:49am
Edited on Oct 23 at 05:56 am
It feels brutal to say, but for this we can truly be thankful. I have followed some of Ms. Berlinski's concerns on this very topic and considering the nightmare scenarios she has portrayed and concerned herself over this is very far indeed from how awful it could have been.
Let us hope that initial reports are not too optimistic.
Feb '11
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I’m sorry, Claire. I’ll keep all of Turkey in my prayers.
Jun '11
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I travelled all over southeast Turkey.. east from Iskenderun to Urfa.
The place I always remember fondly is Gaziantep.. the home of 'Sham fistik".. (pistachio nuts).. never got enough.
Crossed the Firat (Euphrates) on a little wooden ferry at Samsut(?).
Re: Earthquake in Turkey
Claire,
Just a note to say how thankful I am that you are safe. I know you'll keep us updated on the region's relief and rescue efforts but also please be safe where you are, too. I don't trust Istanbul's infrastructure at all. OK, now I'm moving into "parental" mode where I begin guilting you into moving away. Perhaps to Iowa, but far from any rivers or tornado zones?