Turkey ends rescue efforts in all but two earthquake-hit provinces

Turkey has said rescue teams have stopped recovery efforts in all but two hardest hit provinces, a fortnight after the catastrophic earthquake that laid waste to parts of the country.

Large teams of rescuers remained at the ready, but largely confined to tented bases in parklands near the centre of the city, which was at the heart of a contentious construction boom that saw large numbers of buildings rapidly constructed over the past two decades.

Hopes of finding more survivors are close to zero, as officials now turn to how to repair the devastation that has forced millions of people from their homes. Many have sought refuge in neighbouring towns and cities, where an international aid effort that was slow to begin with has now ramped up.

The UK development minister, Andrew Mitchell, arrived in the Turkish city of Gaziantep on Sunday to inspect post earthquake aid projects funded by Britain, the cost of which amount to more than £34m.

The Turkish vice-president, Fuat Oktay, said on Saturday that about 105,000 buildings had either collapsed, needed to be demolished or were severely damaged in the quake.