A powerful earthquake rocked north-west Turkey yesterday, killing at least 34 people and causing widespread devastation.
The epicentre of the quake, which measured 7.2 on the Richter scale, was the town of Duzce, which is approximately 115 miles from Bursa where the Irish and Turkish soccer teams, who play in Dublin today, are due to meet again on Wednesday.
"Many buildings have collapsed and several people are reported to be trapped under rubble," the Prime Minister, Mr Bulent Ecevit, said. He added that the fire brigade building in Duzce had collapsed, trapping an unspecified number of firefighters underneath.
Television pictures from Bolu province showed devastation recalling the Turkish earthquake of August 17th, which killed nearly 20,000 people.
A television correspondent said cries for help were echoing through Duzce. A young man in tears was shown walking around his collapsed home, shouting for his sister trapped in the rubble to talk to him, while a woman was shown desperately pouring water on flames around the rubble of her home.
The pictures showed shocked residents, wrapped in blankets, huddling together in the streets.
Emmet Oliver adds: The FAI said last night the Irish team still intended to travel to Turkey tomorrow for the European Championship play-off in Bursa.
Its chief executive, Mr Bernard O'Byrne, said it was "monitoring developments", but the FAI had been assured by UEFA, Turkish officials and Mr Ray Treacy, the association's official travel agent, that the game could take place in safety. Only a small number of Irish fans are expected to travel.