Death toll in Turkey earthquake reaches 57

ANKARA, March 8, 2010 (Xinhua) --

The death toll from a 6.0-magnitude earthquake that shook eastern Turkey on Monday reached 57, the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Fifty-seven people had been killed by the quake, which caused the most deaths in six villages around the epicenter in the Karakocan town of the eastern province of Elazig, the newspaper quoted Karakocan mayor as saying.

The quake struck Basyurt region of Karakocan town at a depth of 5 km at 4:32 a.m. local time (0232 GMT), said the Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute of Turkey's Bogazici University.

Tremors were also felt in neighboring provinces of Tunceli, Bingol and Diyarbakir, said Hurriyet Daily News.

The institute has so far reported 27 aftershocks and more are expected over the next hours and days, according to the newspaper.

The Turkish Red Crescent had sent 500 tents and foodstuff to the quake zone, while State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek and other senior officials had left the capital Ankara for Elazig, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

Elementary and secondary schools in the disaster area will be closed for two days, the agency said.

It quoted Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Situation Management Directorate as saying the magnitude of the quake was 5.8 on the Richter scale.

On Feb. 21, a 4.3-magnitude earthquake was recorded in the Gokdere region of Elazig, but no damage was reported, said Hurriyet Daily News.

With much of its territories lying atop the North Anatolian fault, Turkey is a quake-prone country. In 1999, more than 18,000 people were killed in two devastating earthquakes in the country.

Major earthquakes in Turkey since 1999

BEIJING, March 8, 2010 (Xinhua) --

At least 38 people died and dozens of others were injured after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake which hit Elazig province in eastern Turkey early Monday, the government said.

Turkey, lying atop the North Anatolian fault, has been plagued by earthquakes frequently. Following is a list of some major earthquakes in Turkey since 1999.

On Aug. 17, 1999, two powerful earthquakes, measuring 6.7 and 7.4 on the Richter scale respectively, hit northwestern and western Turkey, killing about 18,000 people and affecting hundreds of thousands of others.

On May 1, 2003, at least 167 were killed and over 500 others injured when a quake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale hit Turkey's eastern province of Bingol.

On March 26, 2004, a 5.1-magnitude quake jolted eastern Turkey, leaving at least 9 dead and 46 others injured. Another quake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale in the same region injured 12 people on March 28.

On March 12, 2005, an earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale jolted Turkey's eastern province of Bingol. No casualties were reported.

On Oct. 24, 2006, an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale jolted northwestern Turkey, but caused no casualties or serious damage.

On Feb. 21, 2007, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolted eastern Turkey, causing slight damage but no casualties.

On Dec. 20, 2007, a 5.5-magnitude earthquake shook Bala town, but caused no casualties. On Dec. 27, another quake hit the Turkish capital of Ankara, damaging 945 buildings.

On Sep.3, 2008, a 5.1-magnitude earthquake shook southeastern Turkey, damaging some houses in the region. No casualties were reported.

On Dec. 22, 2009, an earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale shook Turkey's Mediterranean region, damaging some buildings.

Editor: Wang Guanqun