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Eastern Turkey's quake toll rises to 12

By the CNN Wire Staff
November 11, 2011 -- Updated 0034 GMT (0834 HKT)
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck eastern Turkey on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • At least 28 people have been rescued, the government says
  • Schools in the area will not reopen until December 5
  • A quake in the area last month killed more than 500 people

(CNN) -- Twelve people have died and 28 have been rescued since an earthquake shook eastern Turkey late Wednesday, the government said Friday.

The Turkish Government Crisis Center said 260 survivors had been taken to Istanbul and Ankara.

According to the Anatolia news agency, 1,363 tents have arrived in Van, where the magnitude-5.7 tremor was centered.

Rescue crews worked Thursday to reach dozens trapped beneath the rubble, officials said. Area schools will remain closed until December 5, the Ministry of Education said.

Some of the deaths occurred when two hotels collapsed, Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay said.

An additional 20 people were rescued from the crumbled structures, he said.

A total of 25 buildings collapsed, but 22 had been empty since October 23, when a magnitude-7.2 earthquake devastated parts of eastern Turkey, including the area around Van. Last month's earthquake killed more than 500 people.

CNN's Hande Atay-Alam in Atlanta and journalists Gul Tuysuz and Andrew Finkel in Turkey contributed to this report.

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