The death of 48,000 people from the earthquake in Turkey, the government is striving to build container towns.

The number of fatalities from the severe earthquakes in Turkey last month has reached 48,448, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu stated on Monday. Authorities are rushing to set up container towns for those who have been left homeless as a result of the disaster.

The total number of casualties, including those who died in Syria, has exceeded 54,000 people.

Speaking at a press conference in Malatya, one of the provinces affected by the earthquakes, Soylu reported that the death toll in Turkey includes 6,660 foreign citizens, mostly Syrians, and added that authorities are still trying to identify 1,615 victims.

The earthquake and subsequent powerful aftershocks have affected over 115,000 people in Turkey and forced millions to seek shelter in tents or try to relocate to other cities.

President Tayyip Erdogan promised to rebuild homes within a year, but many months will pass before thousands can leave tents or container housing, stop waiting in daily food lines, and move into permanent housing.

Soylu stated that the government plans to set up 115,585 containers for that many families at 239 sites across the affected region.

He also reported that since the earthquake, 433,536 tents have been set up at 354 sites and that new temporary jobs will be provided to businesses within the next 10 days.

During his visit to Hatay, one of the most affected regions, Erdogan announced that Qatar promised to send 10,000 containers that were used during last year's World Cup.

Soylu noted that out of 36,257 buildings that collapsed, the debris from 5,321 has already been cleared, and out of 18,219 buildings designated for immediate demolition, 6,000 have already been demolished and the debris removed.

He also noted that the destroyed buildings and those that need to be demolished immediately account for only 25% of the work, while other severely damaged buildings that also require demolition and clearing make up 75%.

Information from Ali Kucukgocmen; Edited by Hugh Lawson