ISTANBUL, Feb 4 (A.A) - Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Center and Seismology Institute Director Professor Ahmet Mete Isikara said on Monday that 493 aftershocks had been recorded in Sultandagi township of Aegean Afyon province since Sunday's strong earthquake.
Isikara told a press conference that the earthquake which rocked Sultandagi on Sunday was the activity of the fault there and that this fault produced earthquakes in that region from time to time.
Professor Isikara said that 48 aftershocks measuring above 3.0 on the Richter Scale and 445 others measuring below 3.0 had been recorded in Sultandagi since Sunday's strong earthquake.
Isikara noted that it was so natural for such a big earthquake to result in aftershocks with magnitudes around 5.0 and stated that such earthquakes should be considered normal.
Three experts from Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Center Seismology Department and two from Geophysics Department went to the quake zone to carry out researches, Isikara pointed out. He said that the results of the researches would later be made public.
Isikara stated that 46 people died in the earthquake and stressed that this number should not be regarded as a consolation.
Turkey should become a country in which people did not lose their lives due to earthquakes, Isikara said.
Isikara noted that earthquakes urged people to build safer houses.
''If you respect to nature, and the nature then will respect you,'' Isikara added.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BAHCELI VISITS QUAKE-HIT AREA
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said on Monday that the Afyon Governor's Office would open investigations into the buildings which collapsed in Sunday's earthquake.
Bahceli said that citizens could denounce the responsibles to the prosecutors' offices.
Bahceli visited quake-hit Bolvadin township of Afyon.
Later, Bahceli proceeded to the industry zone in Cay which was totally destroyed and got information from officials together with State Minister Faruk Bal, Public Works and Settlement Minister Abdulkadir Akcan, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Husnu Yusuf Gokalp and some deputies.
Responding citizens' complaints saying, ''contractors construct very bad buildings. All of them collapsed'', Bahceli instructed Afyon Governor Ahmet Ozyurt to open investigations about the collapsed buildings.
Later, Bahceli visited quake-hit Sultandagi township and got information from the officials at the crisis desk.
Speaking to reporters, Bahceli said, ''as you see that every kind of measure has been taken here. Distribution of tents, blankets and foodstuffs is continuing.''
Later, Bahceli visited quake-stricken Yakasenek, Deresenek and Eber towns.
Quake survivors living in Eber asked Bahceli to send the meat of cattle that will be sacrificed during the holy Feast of Sacrifice to the quake-hit area, and Bahceli instructed Afyon Governor Ozyurt to launch necessary initiatives.
Bahceli said that the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry would help the quake survivors who lost their cattle in the quake.
POPE JOHN PAUL II SENDS CONDOLENCE MESSAGES TO TURKEY
Pope John Paul II sent on Monday condolence messages to Turkey over those who lost their lives in Sunday's earthquake.
Prime Minister Angelo Sadone of Vatican sent the telegram of the pope to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.
Pope John Paul II, in his message, wished condolences to the families of those who died in the earthquake and noted that he shared the grief of the quake survivors.
CHINESE PRESIDENT ZEMIN SENDS CONDOLENCE MESSAGE TO SEZER
Chinese President Jiang Zemin sent on Monday condolence message to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
A statement of Chinese Embassy in Ankara quoted Zemin as saying that he was very upset about the casulties in the earthquake.
The statement noted that Zemin offered his condolence to the families of the quake survivors through President Sezer.
Zemin expressed belief that Turkish people would overcome the problems and quake-hit places would be re-built in the possible shortest time, the statement added.
GERMAN CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER SENDS CONDOLENCE MESSAGE
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder expressed on Monday his condolences to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.
Schroeder expressed deep sorrow over the death and injury of people in the earthquake, offered condolences to families of those who lost their lives and wished quick recovery to the injured in his message.
Meanwhile, German Interior Minister Otto Schily offered aid for those who suffered from the quake in Turkey.
An official at German Interior Ministry said that the aid proposal was conveyed to Turkish Foreign Ministry and the German Technical Aid Organization THW was activated to help quake survivors.
TRNC PRIME MINISTER SENDS CONDOLENCE MESSAGE TO ECEVIT
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu sent on Monday a condolence message to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.
In his message, Eroglu said that they were upset about the quake disaster which once more hit Turkey.
Eroglu hoped that the death toll and number of injured would not increase and Turkey would not face such disasters again.
Wishing quick recovery to Turkish nation, Eroglu implored God's mercy to those who lost their lives, offered condolence to their families and wished quick recovery to the injured.
Eroglu also sent a condolence message to Afyon Governor Ahmet Ozyurt.
GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER FISCHER SENDS LETTER OF CONDOLENCE TO CEM
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer sent a letter of condolence to Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.
In his letter, Fischer said that pictures of quake survivors in Turkey created a deep sorrow in Germany.
Noting that he watched the shootages about the people who were killed in the earthquake and collapsed buildings with great sorrow, Fischer said he expressed his condolence to Cem, the Turkish government and people and that they felt sorrow about the people who lost their relatives, friends and everything in the earthquake.
Stressing that his country was ready to help Turkey, Fischer asked Cem to inform him if there was need for help to diminish pains of quake survivors, adding that they were always ready to support Turkish aid organizations' efforts.
VERHEUGEN SENDS CEM HIS CONDOLENCES
EU Commissioner for Englargement Guenther Verheugen sent Foreign Minister Ismail Cem a letter expressing his sorrow.
Verheugen sent his condolences to the Turkish nation in his letter.