Strong quake kills 41, injures nearly 100 in eastern Turkey
March 8th, 2010 - 3:09 pm ICT by BNO NewsANKARA (BNO NEWS) — A strong earthquake tumbled scores of buildings in the eastern Turkish province of Elazig on early Monday, killing people as they were sleeping inside their homes. Others have been injured while an unknown number of people remain trapped under the rubble.
The earthquake struck at 4.32 a.m. local time, when most people were asleep inside their homes. The Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute of Bogazici University said the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.0 and was centered about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) deep, making it an extremely shallow earthquake. Shallow earthquakes often tend to cause more serious damage. The epicenter was located about 21 kilometers (13 miles) south-southeast of the city of Elazig.
Provincial governor Muammer Erol said at least 41 people had been killed in villages near the epicenter, where scores of homes had collapsed. The office of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan said nearly 100 others had been injured, some of them sustained serious injuries. An unknown number of other people remain trapped under the rubble.
Erdogan’s office said at least 209 search-and-rescue personnel and medics had been deployed since the earthquake, and urged residents not to enter damaged structures. The Red Cross also immediately provided 230 tents, 1,000 blankets, 2 mobile kitchens and 18 staff members. “Search and rescue and relief efforts are continuing,” Erdogan’s office said in a statement.
The earthquake was followed by a series of small aftershocks, which may continue for weeks. At least 30 aftershocks have been recorded, of which the largest had a preliminary magnitude of 4.1.
The region was also struck by a strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake on May 1, 2003. That earthquake killed at least 176 people and injured more than 520 others. Some 625 buildings collapsed or sustained heavy damage in the 2003 quake, while thousands more sustained light to moderate damage.
Another earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.6, struck western Turkey on August 17, 1999. The quake killed more than 17,000 people and left tens of thousands of others injured. A second earthquake hit the exact same area only months later, killing hundreds of people.
- Strong earthquake kills at least 57, injures nearly 100 in eastern Turkey - Mar 08, 2010
- Strong earthquake devastates Turkish villages; at least 41 dead, 50 wounded - Mar 08, 2010
- At least eight die in eastern Turkey quake - Mar 08, 2010
- Up to 1,000 feared dead after powerful quake devastates eastern Turkey - Oct 23, 2011
- Aftershocks hamper rescue efforts in quake-hit Turkey - Mar 09, 2010
- Moderate earthquake hits west Turkey, 2 killed - May 20, 2011
- At least five die in eastern Turkey quake - Mar 08, 2010
- Toll in Turkey quake rises to 57 (Lead) - Mar 08, 2010
- Seven killed as magnitude-5.6 quake hits Turkey - Nov 10, 2011
- 1,000 feared killed as major quake jolts Turkey - Oct 23, 2011
- Strong quake rocks China-Myanmar border region, casualties unknown - Mar 10, 2011
- Turkey quake death toll surpasses 600 - Oct 31, 2011
- Strong aftershock shakes southwestern Mexico, no casualties - Apr 03, 2012
- At least 19 dead, 168 injured injured after quake devastates SW China county - Mar 10, 2011
- Turkey quake toll reaches 279 - Oct 25, 2011
Tags: aftershocks, bno, bogazici university, early monday, earthquake research institute, eastern turkey, elazig, epicenter, kandilli observatory, magnitude earthquake, mobile kitchens, moderate damage, prime minister erdogan, provincial governor, shallow earthquake, shallow earthquakes, south southeast, turkish prime minister, turkish province, unknown number