At least 270 people have died while hundreds more feared dead after an earthquake hit Van on Sunday with rescue teams working through the night to free trapped survivors.

Rescue teams on Monday sifted through rubble of flattened multistory buildings to try to reach dozens of people believed trapped beneath.

Deputy Prime Minister Beþir Atalay, coordinating the government's response at the quake zone in Van province, told a press conference on Monday that tents were being assembled and food distributed as part of a major relief and rescue operation.

BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) deputies, mayors and members halted all scheduled meetings and initiatives and went to Van on Sunday to help in anyway they could. They brought blankets to survivors and helped in coordinating the rescue work.