[19991008]RS20328_土耳其： After the Earthquake.pdf

1 The official death toll was revised downward by about 5,500 on August 24. Critics accused thegovernment of downplaying the magnitude of the disaster to mask its poor response. AmberinZaman, Critics Say Turkey is Understating Earthquake Death Toll, The Washington Post,(continued.)Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20328Updated October 8, 1999Turkey: After the Earthquake(name redacted)Specialist in Middle Eastern AffairsForeign Affairs, Defense, and Trade DivisionSummaryOn August 17, 1999, Turkey was struck by a severe earthquake, leaving about15,000 dead, 24,000 injured, and 250,000 homeless. The high casualty toll, aggravatedby shoddy construction, has been partly attributed to corrupt builders and governmentofficials. Turkish media, earthquake victims, and other observers criticized thegovernment and military for their slow responses to the disaster. Yet, neither thepolitical system nor the government are likely to change soon. Turkey had been in arecession before the quake, and economic growth will continue to decline in the shortterm but will pick up with spending on recovery. Parliament has pas