Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. October 24, 2011 Rescuers Search for Survivors After Massive Quake in Turkey VOA News Halil Oztemel, a 22-year-old high school teacher and earthquake survivor, is carried out on a stretcher by rescue workers from a collapsed building after an earthquake in Ercis, near the eastern Turkish city of Van, October 24, 2011. Photo: Reuters Halil Oztemel, a 22-year-old high school teacher and earthquake survivor, is carried out on a stretcher by rescue workers from a collapsed building after an earthquake in Ercis, near the eastern Turkish city of Van, October 24, 2011. Rescue workers in southeastern Turkey were digging through rubble Monday, trying to find survivors after an earthquake that killed at least 217 people and wounded more than 1,000 others. The search involves hundreds of teams of rescuers from across the country searching the remains of dozens of buildings flattened by Sunday's magnitude 7.2 quake. The earthquake did the most damage in the town of Erics, where Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin says 117 people died, while another 100 people were killed in Van City. Several strong aftershocks were recorded, including one with a magnitude of 6.1. Many residents spent the night in the streets huddled around fires as aid groups distributed food and tents. Several countries, including the United States and Israel, have offered assistance to Turkey. U.S. President Barack Obama said Sunday the U.S. is following the quake reports with great concern and will stand "shoulder to shoulder" with Turkey during this difficult time. But Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country is able to take care of the humanitarian needs itself. He visited the region late Sunday, and state television said the government set an emergency Cabinet meeting for Monday. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was saddened to learn of the loss of life from Sunday's quake. He praised Turkish authorities for their rapid response to the disaster and said the U.N. remains ready to offer help, if requested. Major geological fault lines cross the region and small earthquakes are a frequent occurrence.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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