Earthquake hits eastern Turkey
A 5.7 earthquake hits eastern Turkey, reportedly killing at least 3 people and causing at least 18 buildings to collapse, two weeks after a stronger quake killed over 600 people in the same province.
(Above: The aftermath of the Oct 23 earthquake in Van City)
The earthquake hit 16 km (9 miles) south of the eastern Turkish city of Van near the Iranian border, at 1923 GMT, 2123 local time, at a depth of 4.8 km.
Turkish state television showed a number of collapsed buildings amid live images of panicked people running through the streets, whilst ambulances rushed past them.
RT Haber news channel said a “large number” of people were trapped under the buildings.
Geologists believe the incident was a full on earthquake, but have not ruled out the possibility it was a strong aftershock.
About 1,400 aftershocks have rocked the region since the 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit Van province on October 23.
Many residents had been living in tents, despite the cold, too afraid to return to their homes.
At least 2,000 buildings were destroyed in the stronger temblor and authorities declared another 3,700 buildings unfit for habitation.
It was the most powerful earthquake to hit Turkey in over a decade – as powerful as the quake which hit Haiti in January last year.
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