Image Source: TRIBUNE

A powerful earthquake struck eastern Turkey late on Friday, killing at least 20 people and collapsing buildings in towns near the centre of the tremor, which was strong enough to be felt in several neighbouring countries.

The magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook Elazig province, about 550 km (340 miles) east of the capital Ankara, and was followed by dozens of aftershocks.

Sixteen people were killed in Elazig and four more in the neighbouring province of Malatya, Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said early on Saturday.