Severe storms on Thursday blew the roofs off of buildings damaged in the February earthquake in Turkey’s southern Kahramanmaraş (Mereş) province, killing at least two people and injuring another 41.
The storm and subsequent tornado struck Pazarcık (Bazarcix), the epicentre of the devastating twin earthquakes of 6 February that killed more than 50,000 people according to official figures. Survivors seeking shelter from the downpour in tents increased the scale of the disaster, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Ali Öztunç told Halk TV.
At least eight of the injured are reportedly in a serious condition, as efforts continue to return the disaster accommodation to a liveable state after flooding and large sheets of roofing tearing down tents. The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) is conducting searches for possible flood victims.
Heavy rains had killed 20 people on 15 March in Adıyaman (Semsûr) and Şanlurfa (Rîha), both also hit by the earthquakes. High numbers of casualties are partly due to thousands of people still living in tents and shipping containers months after the disaster.