Machibet777 LiveTurkey earthquake rescuers desperately search for survivors as death toll hits 31 | The Sun - Mcb777 Cricket

EMERGENCY workers race to rescue people trapped in collapsed buildings after the Turkey earthquake, as the death roll reaches 31.

Officials have confirmed 39 people have been rescued from the wreckage since Friday's quake, which left thousands injured in eastern Turkey.

More than 1,000 people have been injured after the 6.8 magnitude earthquakeCredit: AP:Associated Press

A woman is rescued from the quake rubbleCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Rescue workers carry a survivor at the site of a collapsed building 17 hours on form the quakeCredit: Getty Images - Getty

The earthquake rocked Elazig on Friday at 8.55pm at a depth of 6.7 kilometres with various earthquake monitoring centres giving magnitudes ranging from 6.5 to 6.8.

Interior minister Suleyman Soylu said rescue work was proceeding under the threat of aftershocks.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said the first quake was followed by 228 aftershocks - the strongest with magnitudes 5.4 and 5.1.

While sheltering with his family at a sports hall in the town of Sivrice, Elazig, Emre Gocer told the state-run Anadolu news agency that the earthquake was "very severe" and his family had to "desperately" flee their home.

He said: "We don't have a safe place to stay right now."

On Saturday, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said rescue workers were continuing to search for around 30 people buried under the rubble of collapsed buildings.

Television footage showed emergency workers removing two people from the wreckage of a collapsed building in the district of Gezin.

Our biggest hope is that the death toll does not rise

Rescue teams are working around the clock as 2,600 personnel from 39 of Turkeys 81 provinces have been sent to the disaster site.

"Our biggest hope is that the death toll does not rise," said parliament speaker Mustafa Sentop.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter that all measures were being taken to ensure that "the earthquake that occurred in Elazig and was felt in many provinces is overcome with the least amount of loss."

At least five buildings in Sivrice and 25 in the Malatya province were destroyed with hundreds of other structures being damaged and made unsafe.

A prison in Adiyaman, 110 kilometres southwest of the epicentre, was evacuated after being damaged in the quake.

Mr Soylu described the earthquake as a 'level 3' incident according to the country's emergency response plan. This means it requires assistance at the national level but is one stage short of needing international help.

Communication companies have offered free telephone and internet services for residents in the quake-hit region and Turkish Airlines announced extra flights.