12 people have died and at least 520 others injured in the strong earthquake that hit Turkey western Izmir province earlier on Friday, said Murat Kurum, the country’s Environment and Urban Planning Minister.

While 8 injured are in critical condition, 5 injured have been taken under operation in hospital, Kurum said.

So far, 114 aftershocks have occurred, Kurum said, adding that 17 buildings have been severely damaged, while 4 buildings have been completely destroyed.

“Search and rescue efforts to recover those buried under the rubble are ongoing in the Bornova, Bayraklı and Karşıyaka districts,” Kurum underlined. (ILKHA)