The Turkish central government's budget recorded a deficit of 47.22 billion liras (about 2.43 billion US dollars) in March, the Finance Ministry announced on Monday.

The total deficit for the first quarter of this year widened to 250 billion pounds, according to the ministry.

Turkey's budget deficit rose sharply in February after it was hit by massive earthquakes that killed more than 50,000 people and destroyed thousands of buildings in both Turkey and Syria.

The budget deficit of the Turkish central government amounted to 170.56 billion liras in February, compared to about 32.24 billion liras in January.

The Turkish Business and Business Confederation estimates that the earthquakes could cost the country up to $84.1 billion.

The financial services firm JPMorgan Chase & Co. estimated the direct costs of the earthquakes at US$25 billion.