Turkish "Thrill the World" zombies

More than 250 Turks dressed as zombies filled Istanbul’s Ortaköy Square to raise money for earthquake victims.

They gathered in the Turkish capital to celebrate Halloween, commemorate the late famous pop singer Michael Jackson in what they described as a worldwide event called “Thrill the World” and to raise funds for earthquake victims in Turkey’s city of Van, population 1 million, according to the Hurriyet Daily newspaper.

In the ordinarily conservative Muslim nation, participants were still dancing to Jackson hits at 4 a.m., fully in costume as well as in spirit.

According to the National Public Radio, similar events are held annually in at least 100 countries with participants dressed as zombies dancing to Jackson’s hit “Thriller.”

It was not certain how much the Turkish event raised.

The death toll from the 7.2-magnitude quake has passed the 600 mark, according to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Administration. At least 2,262 buildings had collapsed in and around Van.

 

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