Earthquake in Turkey kills more than 200 people

The death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams desperately search for people trapped under the rubble after the strong earthquake hit east Turkey.

Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the area by helicopter where thousands have taken to sleeping outside in freezing conditions.

Striking at 13:41(10:41 GMT) the earthquake recorded a depth of 20km (12miles) with the epicentre located 16km north-east of Van in eastern Turkey.

Several powerful aftershocks followed recording two of a magnitude of 5.6  and another at 6.0 late on Sunday.

Erdogan said the worst affected areas where villages with clay brick buildings.

The Turkish PM was grateful for offers of help from other countries but said the country could cope without assistance.