Your trusted source

At least 20 people were killed and more than 1,015 injured Friday after a deadly earthquake rattled eastern Turkey, according to authorities. Anatolia news agency reported, the 6.8-magnitude quake hit eastern Elazig province, with its epicenter in Sivrice district, along with neighboring provinces and countries including Syria and Georgia.

The country’s 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.