Turkey: Quake survivors protesting dumping of debris targeted with gas, detained

Turkish troops in Turkey's southern district of Samandag targeted earthquake survivors who have been holding a vigil against dumping of debris in their neighborhood from collapsed buildings.

A woman fainted because of the tear gas used by the troops against protesters in the neighborhood of Yesilkoy, ANKA news agency reported.

A protesting resident said that they do not want the debris to be dumped near their homes, noting, "There are people with asthma living here. There are children."

In another neighborhood of the district, close to 20 people were detained because they took part in a protest against dumping of debris, Gazete Duvar reported.

The people living in the neighborhood of Uzunbag have reacted to debris being dumped in the nearby stream of Manastir because of its potential hazardous impact on health, Gazete Duvar said.

Samandag, a district of the border province of Hatay, was devastated by the twin earthquakes that struck on 6 February.