The Evening Star (June 1, 1946)
47 reported killed by quake in Turkey
ISTANBUL (AP) – The official Anatolia news agency reported that at least 47 persons were killed yesterday when a violent earth tremor shook the Eastern Turkish province of Mus, near Lake Van.
The city of Varto was the worst stricken, the agency said, and communications in the whole area were disrupted.
The tremor, which began at about 5:15 a.m. and lasted seven seconds, knocked down homes on sleeping occupants, the agency said.
The Wilmington Morning Star (June 3, 1946)
Earthquake toll totals over 225
Rescue crews place injured list at 145 in Turkish tremor
ISTANBUL, June 2 (AP) – Rescue crews searching through villages leveled by an earthquake Friday in the Eastern Turkish province of Mus reported Sunday a toll of at least 255 persons killed and 145 injured.
The extent of the damage from the tremor hampered a check on casualties. Many villages were shaken, and many persons were trapped in their collapsing homes when the earthquake started shortly after 5 a.m.
The shock apparently was centered in the village of Varto, northwest of Lake Van, but it extended to the province of Erzurum farther north. No official report had been received up to Sunday on destruction at Varto, but an unofficial report said 120 homes, 15 stores and a mosque were wrecked.
Special planes took doctors, nurses, food and equipment for shelter to the stricken zone.
The Evening Star (June 3, 1946)
Turkish earthquake toll believed to exceed 600
ISTANBUL (AP) – Government officials declared that the earthquake which devastated parts of East Turkey Friday probably killed more than 600 persons.
Village after village fell flat throughout the provinces of Mus and Erzurum, Fezzi Kansagil, deputy for Erzincan, said.
The village of Varto, northwest of Lake Van, apparently was hardest hit, but the quake extended into Erzerum Province farther north. Damage to communications facilities delayed a full report on the extent of casualties and damage.
Nippon Times (June 5, 1946)
Quake toll over 600
ISTANBUL, June 4 (Kyodo-AP) – Government officials declared that the earthquake which devastated parts of east Turkey May 31 probably killed more than 600 persons. Fezzi Kansagil, deputy for Erzincan province, said village after village fell throughout the province of Mus and Erzurum. Planes were pressed into service to move food supplies and medicine from other districts into the stricken area.
The Evening Star (June 5, 1946)
1,300 known dead in Turk earthquake
ISTANBUL, June 4 (AP) – At least 1,300 persons were killed in the earthquake which struck Eastern Turkey at dawn Friday and the full toll may run into thousands, the Turkish Red Cross said today.
In three widely separated communities alone, 1,339 persons were listed as dead. The community of Karliova reported 756 dead, Varto, 323, and Ustukan, 260. The Red Cross said it would be days before the full total of casualties was determined.
A community means an area embracing a group of villages. All 21 villages in the community of Karliova were leveled, Red Cross reports said, and only two buildings were left standing in the dozen villages of Varto.
Village after village was destroyed in the provinces of Mus and Erzerum, and farm homes were wiped out. Three other provinces also were rocked by the quake, but no casualties have been reported yet from them.
Many Turks in the areas live in clay or mud homes covered with heavy tile roofs. The earthquake collapses the walls and the roofs tumble in. Many persons were trapped in bed.
The Pittsburgh Press (June 5, 1946)
Death toll rising in Turkish quake
ANKARA (UP) – Rising death toll from the earthquake that rocked Turkey last weekend reached 1,469 today with further tremors reported from the provinces of Mush and Bingol, it was officially announced.
Broken communications and terrain, which in some areas was impassable, slowed the final reports of casualties.
Officials said the terrain in the stricken area was so bad that aircraft could not land beyond Erzurum.
The Wilmington Morning Star (June 6, 1946)
Feud saves lives
ISTANBUL, June 5 (AP) – A battle between feuding clans, which brought out into the fields the entire population of an East Turkey town levelled later by an earthquake, saved hundreds from death, it was learned Wednesday night, along with reports that the death toll in other East Turkey towns in the quake Friday had reached 1,500.