(Adds reports that infection caused deaths)

ANKARA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation after 13 newborn babies died within 24 hours in a state hospital in the western city of Izmir, state news agency Anatolian said on Monday.

It was the second case in two months that has raised concern over standards of care for newborn babies in Turkey.

Turkish television stations and websites reported that the deaths were caused by an infection. The reports could not immediately be confirmed and the nature of the infection was not clear.

The Hurriyet newspaper website reported a doctor on a board of experts examining the case as saying the infection was caused by a liquid given intravenously to the babies.

Media reports said the babies, all born prematurely, died over the weekend at Tepecik hospital in Izmir, Turkey's third largest city.

"The number of babies that have died has increased to 13. We are looking into the deaths," Anatolian quoted Mehmet Ozkan, the head of the local health directorate as saying.

The hospital is under quarantine and no more babies are being admitted into the centre, Anatolian said.

In August, more than two dozen babies died in a hospital in Ankara. (Editing by Dominic Evans)

AlertNet news is provided by