Visitors to Turkey are being warned that sirens are expected to sound out across the country at 6.57pm on Saturday as part of a nationwide earthquake drill.

There will also be announcements on TV and radio stations.

The Foreign Office said Brits in Turkey should ‘follow any instructions from local authorities’. No further information was given.

Local newspapers in Turkey said the drill, being carried out in this format for the first time, will include warnings from national broadcaster TRT’s television and radio channel to ‘drop-cover-hold on’.

The exercise will be held simultaneously in 81 provinces in Turkey and Northern Cyprus, it said.

Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency has opted not to use vehicle sirens in order to avoid panic, according to Hurriyet Daily News.

However, voice warnings will be emitted from local public announcement systems, including mosques.

Following the drill, prayers will be held across the country to remember those who died in the Düzce earthquake and other national disasters.