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Earthquake in Turkey

March 8, 2010

EU president Manuel Barroso expressed the EU's solidarity with Turkey, after a 6.0 magnitude earthquake shook the eastern province on Monday. At least 51 are reported to have been killed, with nearly 100 more injured.

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Locals walks through rubble following earthquake
The quake struck as many villagers were sleepingImage: picture alliance / dpa

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has offered his condolences to Turkey, after an earthquake in the eastern provinces killed at least 50 people.

"I am deeply concerned by the news coming in on the earthquake in Turkey. I would like to express the solidarity of the European Commission with the president of Turkey, its government and the Turkish people," Barroso said in a statement.

The 6.0 magnitude quake struck the village of Basyurt in Elazig province of Turkey on Monday morning. It was followed by 20 aftershocks, the strongest measuring 4.1.

At least 51 people died in three villages in the region, according to a local official in Elazig province. The death toll expected to rise through out the day. The Disaster and Emergency Administration had earlier given the official toll at 20, with 60 people injured.

Mud-brick houses

Much of the population of the region lives in mud-brick houses built on hillsides, reports said.

"Villages consisting mainly of mud-brick houses have been damaged, but we have minimal damage such as cracks in buildings made of cement or stone," Elazig Premier Muammer Erol said.

The quake was felt in the neighbouring provinces of Tunceli, Bingol and Diyarbakir, where residents fled to the streets in panic.

The Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory said the quake in Elazig province occurred at 4:32 a.m. local time.

Severe earthquakes are common in Turkey, which is crossed by several active fault-lines. In 1999, about 20,000 people died following powerful tremors in the country's northwest region.

smh/AP/Reuter/dpa/AFP
Editor: Chuck Penfold