Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct.28 / Trend, A. Taghiyeva /
The celebrations in major Turkish cities that are traditionally held on Oct. 29 - the Day of Turkish Independence - will be canceled this year due to the earthquake in Van that killed 570 people, the Sabah newspaper reported.
An earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale took place in southeastern Turkey on Sunday afternoon.
Local seismologists predict the death toll may hit more than 500 people.
Rescue operations are carried out in the earthquake-ravaged areas. Local authorities are handing out humanitarian aid coming from almost all Turkey's regions and from abroad. They mostly need warm clothing, tents, food and drinking water.
On Friday, rescuers pulled a 13-year-old boy alive from under the rubble.