Turkey Quake: Death Toll Rises to 40

The Turkish authorities announced on Sunday that the death toll from the strong earthquake that hit Izmir rose to 40.

On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inspected the search and rescue operations in Izmir, after it was hit by a strong earthquake on Friday.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the 7.0 magnitude tremor was centered off Turkey’s Izmir province, and it was recorded shortly before 12.00 GMT.

70 people had been rescued from under the rubble, according to the authorities.

“Get well soon İzmir,” Erdogan wrote on Twitter in the aftermath of the quake.