Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has visited quake victims in the east of the country. Two earthquakes in the Van province over past three weeks have claimed more than 600 lives and left many homeless. Over 1,000 aftershocks have rocked the region since the initial quake on October 23rd. The second earthquake struck last week, killing two Turkish journalists and a Japanese aid worker, among others. Japanese Atsushi Miyazaki was rescued alive from the wreckage of the hotel that collapsed on November 9th, but died the following day in hospital. Miyazaki had helped distribute meat to quake survivors during the Muslim feast of sacrifice. Turkey's President Abdullah Gul has sent a message of condolence to Japan's Emperor Akihito, saying Miyazaki would be remembered with gratitude by the Turkish people.