Major earthquake strikes Turkey

People wait for word of family members as rescuers work to save people from debris in Ercis, Van, eastern Turkey, Monday, Oct. 24, 2011.

A survivor of the 7.2-magnitude quake that has killed at least 239 people in eastern Turkey was pulled from the rubble with three other people on Monday after he managed to call for help on his cell phone.

Dozens of people were trapped in hills of debris, but authorities offered hope that the death toll may not rise as high as initially feared.

Rescuers work to save people from debris of collapsed buildings in Ercis, Van, eastern Turkey, Monday, Oct. 24, 2011.

A man looks for trapped family members amid the debris of a collapsed building, as rescuers work to save people in Ercis, Van, eastern Turkey, Monday, Oct. 24, 2011.

People are seen in front of the debris of collapsed buildings in Ercis, Van, eastern Turkey, Monday, Oct. 24, 2011. At least 270 people are killed after a powerful quake in eastern Turkey ND dozens of people are still trapped in hills of debris, but authorities hope the death toll may not rise as high as initially feared.

Relatives of earthquake victims sit on the collapsed roof of a damaged house in Ercis, province of Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 24, 2011.

A woman mourns for her parents who lost their lives in a powerful earthquake in the town of Ercis in Van province, Turkey, Monday, Oct. 24, 2011. The 7.2-magnitude quake which struck Sunday killed some 270 people in eastern Turkey.

Hilal, a 16-year-old earthquake survivor, is carried by rescue workers from a collapsed building in the Ercis province of Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 24, 2011.

People scramble through rubble one day after the 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck in the Ercis province of Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 24, 2011.

A man walks amid the rubble as a crane is used by rescue workers to dig through the debris during a rescue operation after an earthquake in Van, eastern Turkey, October 24, 2011.

A woman holds her baby daughter as she eats biscuits near a collapsed building after a powerful earthquake in the town of Ercis in Van province, Turkey, Monday, Oct. 24, 2011.

Turkish rescue workers take part in an operation to recover victims in a collapsed building as a crane is used to dig through rubble in the Ercis province of Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 24, 2011.

Turkish men help a victim a few minutes before his death during a rescue operation to recover people from a collapsed building after an earthquake in the Ercis province of Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 23, 2011.

Turkish men sleep on a couch in a street after an earthquake in the Ercis province of Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 24, 2011.

A Turkish family looks through a car window October 24, 2011, as they leave the Ercis province of Van, in eastern Turkey, after an earthquake.

People hold loaves of bread provided by rescuers after an earthquake in the Ercis province of Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 24, 2011.

Residents loot tents from a Turkish Red Crescent truck a day after a powerful earthquake in Ercis, province of Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 24, 2011.

Residents carry away a tent after looting it from a Turkish Red Crescent truck one day after a powerful earthquake in Ercis, province of Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 24, 2011. This eastern Turkish town was in a state of shock a day after a devastating earthquake struck, killing at least 169 of its residents and causing widespread damage.

Workers take part in a rescue operation after an earthquake in the Ercis province of Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 24, 2011.

A Turkish rescue worker stands in a hole as teams scrambled through rubble in a desperate search for survivors of an earthquake that killed at least 264 people, in Van, eastern Turkey, on October 24, 2011.

Turkish rescue workers scramble through the rubble in search for survivors, one day after the 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck in the Ercis province of Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 24, 2011.

A crane is used to dig through rubble after an earthquake in eastern Turkey that killed at least 217 people, on October 24, 2011, in Van.

Turkish people sit on a street after an earthquake in the Ercis province of Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 24, 2011.

A Turkish man stands amid the rubble of an earthquake-damaged building on October 24, 2011 in Van, eastern Turkey. A 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Turkey killed at least 200 people and injured 1,300, deputy prime minister Besir Atalay said.

Young men look at the debris of an apartment building following a powerful earthquake in the town of Ercis in Van province, Turkey, Monday, Oct. 24, 2011.

Rescuers work to save people from collapsed buildings in Ercis, Van, eastern Turkey, Monday, Oct. 24, 2011. At least 270 people were killed by a powerful quake in eastern Turkey and dozens of people are still trapped in hills of debris, but authorities hope the death toll may not rise as high as initially feared.

Rescuers and local people work to save people from debris in Ercis, Van, eastern Turkey, Monday, Oct. 24, 2011.

An elderly man passes by a collapsed building after a powerful earthquake in the town of Ercis in Van province, Turkey, Monday, Oct. 24, 2011. The 7.2-magnitude quake which struck Sunday killed some 270 people in eastern Turkey.

People rescue a woman trapped under debris after a powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Turkey, collapsing about 45 buildings in Van province, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011, according to the deputy Turkish prime minister. The worst damage was caused to the town of Ercis, in the mountainous eastern province of Van, close to the Iranian border.

Turkish men take part in a rescue operation to salvage people from a collapsed building after an earthquake in the Ercis procince of Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 23, 2011.

A Turkish man takes part in a rescue operation to salvage people from a collapsed building after an earthquake in the Ercis province of Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 23, 2011.

Turkish men take part in an operation to rescue people from a collapsed building after an earthquake in the Ercis procince of Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 23, 2011.

A rescue operation is underway after an earthquake in Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 23, 2011.

Turkish men look at a collapsed building after an earthquake in the Ercis procince of Van, in eastern Turkey, on October 23, 2011.

AP Photo/ Abdurrahman Antakyali, Aatolia

A man carries an injured child in the city of Van, after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Turkey Sunday Oct. 23, 2011, collapsing some buildings and causing an unknown number of deaths, an official said.

People try to save people trapped under debris in Tabanli village near the city of Van after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Turkey Sunday Oct. 23, 2011.

AP Photo/ Abdurrahman Antakyali, Anatolia

Shocked people seen in the city center of Van after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Turkey Sunday Oct. 23, 2011, collapsing some buildings and causing a number of deaths, an official said.

People try to save people trapped under debris in Tabanli village near the city of Van, after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Turkey Sunday Oct. 23, 2011.

People walk by the debris of collapsed buildings in Ercis, Van, eastern Turkey, Monday, Oct. 24, 2011. At least 270 people are killed after a powerful quake in eastern Turkey and dozens of people are still trapped in hills of debris, but authorities hope the death toll may not rise as high as initially feared.

A tent city set up on a soccer field for survivors in Ercis, Van, eastern Turkey, Monday, Oct. 24, 2011.