The death toll from the Izmir earthquake in Turkey has risen to 58, as search and rescue operations continue

Today, Sunday, the Turkish authorities announced that the death toll from the earthquake that struck the city of Izmir has risen to 58. Anadolu Agency quoted Turkish Vice President Fuad Oktay as saying that the earthquake caused the largest losses in the Bayrakli neighborhood in Izmir.

He pointed out that 6 buildings were destroyed in the neighborhood, 9 others sustained heavy losses, and 260 moderately damaged.

Oktay confirmed that it is planned to set up 3,880 temporary tents to host earthquake victims in many districts of Izmir.

Rescue crews are still continuing their search and rescue work under the rubble of buildings destroyed by the earthquake, which makes the number of victims likely to rise. Earlier on Sunday, the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Department announced that the number of earthquake victims had risen to 43, including one drowning, and 896 others were injured.

Last Friday, an earthquake measuring 6.6 on the "Richter" scale shook Izmir, western Turkey, destroying about 20 buildings.

Source: Agencies