Strong earthquake rocks western Turkey near Duzce
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake has struck an area of western Turkey near the town of Duzce, about 210km (130 miles) east of Turkey’s largest city Istanbul.
The tremors were strong enough to be felt in Istanbul and the capital Ankara. At least 46 people were injured, officials say.
Estimates of the quake’s depth vary from 2km to 10km.
There are reports of power being disrupted in the region, as well as some residents jumping from balconies.
Another 4.7 quake was reported some 20 minutes after the first.
Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said there had been no information about loss of life.
But later Turkey’s disaster agency said 37 had been injured in Duzce, one in Istanbul, six in Zonguldak and one in Sakarya on the Black Sea coast, and one in Bolu, to the southeast.
Photos from Duzce at night show many people huddled outdoors, wrapped in blankets and using makeshift fires to keep warm.
Security camera footage of the earthquake has been posted on social media.
The quake shook many tiles and panels off Duzce’s courthouse – a photo shows the debris at the bottom of the building.
Duzce was hit by a major 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 1999 which left at least 845 people dead.
Agencies