The number of dead in Turkey from the strong earthquakes of last month increased to 48,448as the Minister of the Interior announced today Suleiman Soyluwhile authorities are trying to build container cities to provide long-term housing for homeless earthquake victims.

The total number of people killed in Turkey and Syria has exceeded 54,000.

Speaking at a press conference in Malatya, one of the provinces hit by the earthquakes, Soylu said the death toll in Turkey included 6,660 foreign nationalsmostly Syrians, adding that authorities are still trying to identify them 1,615 victims.

The main earthquake and strong aftershocks have injured more than 115,000 people in Turkey while millions have sought shelter in tents or are trying to relocate to other cities.

President Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to rebuild the homes within a year, but it will be many months before thousands of people can leave their temporary shelters — and the daily lines to get food — and settle into permanent housing.

Soilou said the government plans to set up 115,585 containers for an equal number of families in 239 locations throughout the earthquake-hit area. He said that so far 23 sites have been organized and 21,000 containers have been set up, with 85,000 people living in them.

The minister said that after the earthquake 433,536 tents and 354 points have been set upadding that within the next 10 days new temporary workplaces will be given to businesses.

During a visit yesterday, Sunday, to Hatay, one of the hardest-hit areas, Erdogan said Qatar had committed to sending 10,000 containers, which had been used during Soccer World Cup at the end of last year.

Soylou stated that 36,257 buildings collapsed and the debris has been removed from 5,321 buildingswhile the ruins have been demolished and removed from 6,000 out of 18,219 buildings which have been deemed to be demolished.

He stated that the buildings that collapsed and those that were immediately deemed to be demolished correspond only to 25% of the total of these works, while the rest 75% it concerns buildings that have suffered serious damage and they must be demolished.