Death toll in Turk quake rises to 523

The death toll in an earthquake that hit southeast Turkey on Sunday has risen to 523, with 1,650 people injured, the Disaster and Emergency Administration said on Thursday.

In a statement, it also said 185 people had been rescued alive from collapsed buildings since the quake, which struck Van province on Sunday afternoon with a magnitude of 7.2. The crisis centre had said on Wednesday night the death toll was at 481. (Reuters)