The Turkish authorities said that the death toll of the devastating earthquake that struck the west of the country, especially the state of Izmir, has risen to 20.
According to the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency AFAD, the earthquake killed 20 people and injured 786 others, including 725 in Izmir, with varying wounds according to the information received so far.
AFAD confirmed the continuation of search work in all cities affected by the earthquake, especially Izmir, where rescue operations are taking place in 17 buildings, while the armed forces are carrying out an air survey.
AFAD reported that it recorded at least 244 aftershocks after the earthquake, 24 of which were greater than 4 magnitude on the Richter scale.
Earlier on Friday, the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency announced that an earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale struck the western state of Izmir, indicating that its epicenter was 17 km from the coast of the city of Sefrihisar, besieged in the Aegean Sea.
The mayor of the Turkish city of Izmir, Tung Suyar, announced that initial information indicates that about 20 buildings have collapsed due to the earthquake.
In turn, the Turkish Ministry of Defence stated that a crisis cell was formed following it following the Izmir earthquake, with two helicopters assigned to participate in search and rescue operations.
He added, “We stand with all the capabilities of our country alongside our citizens affected by the earthquake, and all relevant institutions and ministries have moved to start the necessary work.”
The earthquake also destroyed buildings on the Greek island of Samos, killing two students in a local school, in addition to injuring 8 other people.
