The death toll from Friday's powerful earthquake in eastern Turkey has risen to 22, the country's interior minister said on Saturday, APA reports citing Anadolu Agency.
"Four people died in Malatya's Doganyol [town] and 18 others in Elazig," said Suleyman Soylu at a news conference in quake-hit Elazig province .
A total of 39 people were also rescued from the rubble of collapsed houses and buildings, Soylu added.
***12:20
At least 21 people were killed and 1,030 others were injured after a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 rocked the eastern Turkish province of Elazıg on Friday evening, APA reports citing Daily Sabah.
***09:24
The number of people died and injured in the earthquake occurred in Turkey has increased, APA's local bureau reports.
The number of dead people has reached 20, and the number of injured people has reached 1015.
***08:30
At least 19 people were killed and more than 900 injured Friday after a deadly earthquake rattled eastern Turkey, according to authorities, APA reports citing Anadolu.
The 6.8-magnitude quake hit eastern Elazig province at 8.55 p.m. local time, with its epicenter in Sivrice district, along with neighboring provinces and countries including Syria and Georgia.
The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said 922 others were injured; 560 in Elazig, 226 in Malatya, 37 in Kahramanmaras, 34 in Sanliurfa, 34 in Diyarbakir, 25 in Adiyaman, 6 in Batman.
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced the updated death toll, saying: "We have approximately 30 residents under the wreckage in Elazig."
The search and rescue operations are continuing and the death toll could rise, said Koca.
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the injured were transferred to hospitals and facilities have been opened to serve those who have been affected.
Five buildings in Sivrice and 25 in Doganyol district, Malatya were destroyed, said Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum.
He also cautioned residents not to go into damaged buildings.
The AFAD said 118 aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging from 2.7 to 5.4, were felt following the powerful quake.
It said hundreds of tents, beds and thousands of blankets were dispatched to cities.
The Turkish Red Crescent announced a crisis desk was set up in Ankara, and rescue teams dispatched to quake areas. Mobile kitchens, which serve up to 5,000 people, were sent to the region.
National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said the army was ready to step into action if necessary.
Turkish parliamentary speaker Mustafa Sentop said: "Our biggest hope is that the death toll does not rise."
Davut Gul, governor of Gaziantep province, said there were no life or material loss, according to initial reports and offered condolences to locals.
Sanliurfa Governor Abdullah Erin said the situation did not look dire, according to the initial reports, and the disaster agency stepped into action right after the quake.
Tuncay Sonel, the governor of Tunceli province, said the quake was felt in his province but it did not cause heavy damage as authorities observed no casualties.
***02:59
A massive earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 rocked the eastern Turkish province of Elazığ on Friday evening. "Death toll in Elazığ earthquake has risen to 18; 405 people were injured in Elazığ and 148 others in Malatya. We are doing our best to rescue 30 people trapped under a collapsed building," Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said after the quake. The temblor reportedly lasted 15 seconds, APA reports citing Dail Sabah.
"170 additional ambulances have been dispatched to Elazığ and Malatya provinces. Air ambulances are also ready to help the affected," Health Minister Fahrettin Koca stated.
According to Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the quake struck Elazığ's Sivrice district at 8:55 p.m. (1755 GMT) from a depth of 6.7 kilometers.
Soon after the initial quake, the province was shaken further by a series aftershocks ranging from between a magnitude 5.4 to 3.3.
***01:35
The death toll from the Friday earthquake in Turkey's east has reached 14, while more than 300 people have been injured, the governors of Turkey's provinces of Elazig and Malatya said, APA reports citing Sputnik.
***23:16
4 people dead, two injured as a result of earthquake in Eastern Turkey, Turkish Interior Minister said, APA reports.
***22:08
A massive earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 rocked the eastern Turkish province of Elazığ on Friday evening, APA reports.
According to Turkey's Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, the quake struck Elazığ's Sivrice district at 8:55 p.m. (1755 GMT) from a depth of 10 kilometers.
According to initial reports, the quake was also felt across several neighboring provinces in eastern Turkey.
There are no immediate reports about damages or casualties due to the earthquake.
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