The full death toll in the Aug. 17 earthquake that devastated western Turkey may never be known, but more than 12,000 people died and many thousands more are missing. Emergency personnel are working furiously to bury the dead to prevent the outbreak of disease. Travel to the affected areas, including Golcuk, Izmit, Kocaeli, and Yalova, should be deferred. Istanbul, which suffered isolated damage, is recovering quickly and the airport is open. There were no reports of damage in Ankara or eastern Turkey.
