The death toll from the earthquake in Turkey has exceeded 48,000, as the government races to build container cities

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ANKARA (Reuters) – The death toll from major earthquakes that hit Turkey last month has risen to 48,448, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Monday, as authorities rush to build container cities to house those who have been displaced for the long term. disaster.

The total death toll, including those in Syria, has risen to more than 54,000.

The death toll in Turkey includes 6,660 foreigners, most of them Syrians, Soylu said at a press conference in Malatya, one of the quake-hit provinces, adding that the authorities are still trying to identify 1,615 victims.

The earthquake and subsequent strong tremors injured more than 115,000 people in Turkey and left millions sheltering in tents or seeking to move to other cities.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to rebuild homes within a year, but it will be several months before thousands can leave their tents or container homes, line up daily for food, and move into permanent housing.

Soylu said the government plans to construct 115,585 containers for the largest number of families in 239 locations across the affected area. He said that 23 sites have been established so far and 21,000 containers have been built, in which 85,000 people live.

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He said that 433,536 tents have been erected since the earthquake in 354 locations, adding that companies will be given new temporary workplaces in the next 10 days.

During a Sunday visit to Hatay, one of the hardest-hit regions, Erdogan said Qatar had pledged to send 10,000 containers, which were used during the soccer World Cup at the end of last year.

Soylu said that out of the 36,257 buildings that collapsed, the rubble of 5,321 buildings had been removed, while out of the 18,219 buildings that were scheduled to be demolished, 6,000 were immediately demolished and the resulting rubble removed.

He said that collapsed buildings slated for immediate demolition make up only 25% of the works, while other badly damaged buildings that need demolition and clearance make up 75%.

(Reporting by Ali Kucukjukman). Editing by Hugh Lawson

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