Disaster agency announces the end of search and rescue operations after İzmir earthquake

Photo: AA

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The search and rescue operations following the 6.9 magnitude earthquake on October 30 in the western İzmir province have been concluded, the chair of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) has announced.

"Search and Rescue teams have completed their work. We thank every worker and volunteer who made an effort, who helped," Mehmet Güllüoğlu said on Twitter.

"We continue to work intensively on other issues," he added.

The death toll in the earthquake stands at 114, according to the AFAD. As many as 137 people are still receiving treatment while 898 have been discharged from hospitals.

The magnitude of the earthquake was announced as 6.6 by the AFAD, 6.9 by Boğaziçi University's Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute and 7.0 by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The earthquake's epicenter was 17.26 km (10.7 mi) off the Seferihisar district of İzmir at a depth of 16.54 km (10 mi).

İzmir is Turkey's third-largest city with a population of around 4.37 million. (AS/VK)