"Very difficult" to hold elections on 14 May: Official

A Turkish official said that the disaster caused by the earthquake posed "very serious difficulties" for the holding of an election scheduled for May 14, Reuters reported on Thursday without naming the official.

The official told Reuters it was too early to make any decision on elections, noting that a three-month state of emergency had been announced and that some 15% of Turkey's population lived in the affected area.

"We will look at developments but at the moment there are very serious difficulties in holding an election on May 14," he said.

Anger has been building in Turkey over the slow delivery of aid and delays in getting the rescue efforts underway, Reuters added, noting that the situation is "bound to play into the vote should it still go ahead."

Hundreds of thousands of people across Turkey and Syria have been left homeless in the middle of winter, many camping out in makeshift shelters in supermarket car parks, mosques, roadsides or amid the ruins, often desperate for food, water and heat, the UK-based news outlet reported.