Powerful quake hits eastern Turkey, six deadThe epicentre was in the small lakeside town of Sivrice in the eastern province of ElazigISTANBUL - A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 hit eastern Turkey on Friday, killing at least six people, causing buildings to collapse and sending panicked residents rushing into the street. Rescue teams were being sent to the scene of the quake, which had its epicentre in the small lakeside town of Sivrice in the eastern province of Elazig. Turkey's leading communications companies announced they would provide residents in the quake region with internet and that phone calls would be free of charge. The tremor was felt in several parts of eastern Turkey near the Iraqi and Syrian borders, the Turkish broadcaster NTV reported, adding that neighbouring cities had mobilised rescue teams for the quake area. "We have sent four teams to the quake region," Recep Salci of Turkey's Search and Rescue Association (AKUT) told AFP.

Source: Bangkok Post January 24, 2020 20:37 UTC