Twenty-nine people have been found dead as rescue workers sift through buildings destroyed after an earthquake that hit Turkey.
The 6.7-magnitude temblor struck the eastern part of the country and left more than 1,400 people wounded. The earthquake struck at the relatively shallow depth of six miles and lasted about 40 seconds.
The quake could be felt across the Middle East, including in Syria and Lebanon and as far east as Iraq. More than 400 aftershocks hit the region after the earthquake struck, 14 of which had magnitudes above 4.
According to the United States Geological Survey, approximately 500,000 people experienced strong to very strong shaking.
“In our village, some people lost their lives. I hope God will help us,” a 32-year-old man from the town of Sivrice told Reuters. “Our animals died. Our families gathered around the fire to spend the night, covered with blankets.”
Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended a funeral for a woman and her child who were killed in the temblor.
“We are doing everything we can as the state and nation, and we will continue to do so. Our efforts at all rescue sites will continue,” he said.
