The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake was felt as far away as Athens and Istanbul and struck at a depth of 10km. Turkey and Greece both sit on earthquake-prone fault lines and earthquakes are common.

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Residents were urged by authorities and officials on Friday (local time) to stay outdoors and keep away from coastal areas.

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Rescuers continued to dig through concrete blocks after dark on, hoping to find more survivors.

Authorities in Izmir, the rural capital, set up a tent area to house about 2,000 people overnight, amid fears that more buildings could collapse.

Work continued through the night to search for survivors in 20 buildings that were destroyed as a result of the earthquake.

Officials reported that search and rescue operations had been completed in eight buildings, operations are continuing in nine other locations.

A 65-year-old man was saved 26 hours after the quake. Rescue work continued in nine buildings.

Rescue crews and volunteers worked on Friday before Saturday (local time) to further look for any survivors in the downed rubble of buildings when the earthquake struck.

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Search-and-rescue teams lifted teenager Inci Okan out of the rubble of an eight-floor apartment building. Her dog, Fistik, or Pistachio, was also rescued,

A mother and three of her children were reported trapped in the centre of the city but was rescued alive today by rescue groups.