Death toll from Turkey’s earthquake rises to over 30 victims
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The death toll from Friday’s powerful earthquake in eastern Turkey rose to 31, the country’s disaster relief agency said.
So far, 1,547 people have been reported injured as rescue workers continue recovering victims buried under the rubble, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).
A total of 45 people have been rescued including a woman, 17 hours after her house collapsed.
A handout photo made available by the Turkish President Press office shows Turkish President Erdogan (R) watches as rescue workers carry a wounded woman from a rubble of a building after an earthquake hit Elazig, Turkey. EPA-EFE/TURKISH PRESIDENT PRESS OFFICE HANDOUT
AFAD said rescue work continues with more than 3,433 personnel with hundreds of vehicles and 17 sniffer dogs in the region.
A team of surveyors is assessing the damage caused by the earthquake, with initial reports suggesting 76 buildings were demolished while 42 damaged and 425 with minor damages.
Rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble of a building after an earthquake hit Elazig, Turkey. EPA-EFE/STR
The 6.8-magnitude quake shook Turkey’s Elazig province late Friday. Tremors were also felt in neighbouring countries including Syria and Georgia.
More than 530 aftershocks were felt in the region with nine above a 4.0-magnitude.
