The heavily earthquake-hit town of Nurdagı in the Turkish province of Gaziantep will be completely demolished, acting governor Osman Bilgin said Monday.

Bilgin said search and rescue operations are underway in the last eight houses where people may be under the rubble.

"We have experienced a colossal disaster. We made a decision together with the Minister of Urban Development Kurum: all rubble is removed, the city is completely demolished - 100%. We found 150 dead under the rubble of the house alone. The city will be rebuilt," NTV quoted the governor as saying.

According to Turkish media, the city's population was at least 40,000 people.