A powerful earthquake has killed at least 20 people and injured more than 1,000 in eastern Turkey, as rescue teams searched through the rubble of collapsed buildings for survivors on Saturday.
The earthquake of 6.8 magnitude had its epicentre in the small lakeside town of Sivrice in the eastern province of Elazig. 30 people have been reported missing.
"It was very scary, furniture fell on top of us. We rushed outside," 47-year-old Melahat Can, who lives in the provincial capital of Elazig, said.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said all steps were being taken to aid people affected by the quake, which caused widespread fear.
"We stand by our people," Erdogan said on Twitter.
According to the US Geological survey, tremors were being felt as far as Lebanon, Syria, Georgia and Armenia. As per government sources, the earthquake took place around 8.55 pm local time.
Turkey lies on major faultlines and is prone to frequent earthquakes.
At least 20 people died and 1,015 others were wounded, according to AFAD.
Rescue teams, that were searching for survivors trapped in a five-storey collapsed building in a village about 30 kilometres from Elazig, pulled one person alive from the rubble.
Sports centres, schools and guest houses had been opened to accommodate quake victims in Malatya.
Sivrice, a town with a population of about 4,000 people is one of the most popular tourist spots in the region and the source of the Tigris river.
"Everybody is in the street, it was very powerful, very scary," said Zekeriya Gunes, 68, from Elazig city, after the quakes caused a building to collapse on her street.
"It lasted quite long, maybe 30 seconds," added Ferda, 39. "I panicked and was undecided whether to go out in this cold or remain inside."
"My wholehearted sympathy to President @RTErdogan and the Turkish people following the devastating earthquake that has hit Turkey. Our search and rescue teams stand ready to assist," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis wrote on Twitter.
An earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale hit Izmit in 1999, killing more than 17,000 people.
In September 2019, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake shook Istanbul, causing residents to flee buildings in the economic capital.
Experts have long warned a large quake could devastate the city, that has rapidly allowed construction of structures without safety precautions.
