Strong earthquake hits eastern Turkey

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.5 shook eastern Turkey at shortly before midnight on Wednesday, semi-official Anatolia News Agency reported on Thursday.

Muzaffer Golen, the mayor of Karliova town of Bingol province, was quoted as saying that there were not any immediate reports of casualties or damages as the quake hit Bingol province.

"There is no damage in the town center. But, authorities have still been trying to check on the situation in nearby mountain villages," he added.

Following the quake, local people rushed out to the streets in panic and most of them spent the night out of doors.

It was the second quake to strike the area in the last two weeks. A magnitude of 5.7 quake injured 15 people and damaged many houses in the town on March 12.

Source: Xinhua