Turkey quake toll hits 31

The death toll from a powerful earthquake which struck eastern Turkey rose to 31, officials said yesterday, as rescue efforts continued. The magnitude 6.8 quake hit on Friday evening, with its epicentre in the small lakeside town of Sivrice in Elazig province but also affected neighbouring cities and countries. The Turkish government’s disaster and emergency management agency (AFAD) 1,607 were injured. Nearly 80 buildings collapsed while 645 were heavily damaged in Elazig and Malatya, the agency said in a statement.