ADDS STATEMENT OF HEALTH MINISTER
By Erdogan Cagatay Zontur
ANKARA (AA) – The death toll from an earthquake in Turkey’s Aegean region rose to 51 on Sunday, according to Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay.
The country's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority said as of 9.30 a.m. local time (0630GMT) Sunday, there have been 850 aftershocks with 40 stronger than magnitude-4.0.
Search and rescue activities continue in the Aegean province of Izmir.
At least 896 people were wounded Friday when a magnitude-6.6 quake jolted Izmir. A total of 104 people were rescued from under the debris.
Among the hospitalized earthquake victims, 76% have been discharged as of Sunday morning, while eight people are in intensive care units, according to the data cited by Health Minister Fahrettin Koca.
