Death toll in Turkey quake rises to 459

The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck southeastern Turkey Sunday has risen to 459 and at least 1,352 were injured, Turkey's disaster management authorities said Tuesday.

About 3,346 search and rescue personnel were dispatched to the quake-hit province of Van, according to Turkish Prime Ministry's Disaster and Emergency Administration (AFAD).

A two-week-old baby was rescued from the rubbles in the Ercis district of Van province Tuesday, almost two days after the 7.2- magnitude earthquake, one of Turkey's most powerful quakes in a decade, local newspaper Today's Zaman reported on its website.

Hundreds of others are believed to be trapped under rubbles and rescue work is ongoing, Turkish NTV reported.

The earthquake, which occurred Sunday afternoon, led to the collapse of about 80 multi-storey buildings in Ercis, a town of 75, 000 people close to the Iranian border. The region is among Turkey 's most earthquake-prone zones.

Turkey refused assistance from other countries, saying that foreign aid is not currently needed.