About 5,000 personnel are taking part in search and rescue efforts, he noted.
“17 buildings were destroyed in the earthquake. While search and rescue activities have been completed in the wreckage of 8 buildings, the efforts are ongoing in 9 others,” Kurum said.
There have until now been 25 confirmed deaths and 831 injured following the earthquake that took place in Turkey’s western Izmir province on Friday.
484 aftershocks have been recorded in the region since the earthquake, according to the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).