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5.1-magnitude quake hits western Turkey

03 May 2012 20:22 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A 5.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Kutahya province in western Turkey on Thursday, the Istanbul-based Kandilli seismology center reported, APA reports.

The quake occurred at 18:20 local time (GMT 1520), with its epicenter in Tokat village of Hiharcik town in Kutahya, according to the seismology center affiliated to Bogazici University.

The epicenter, with a depth of 3.1 km, was felt in some towns near Hiharcik and many citizens ran out of their houses in the province with panic.

Mustafa Koc, and official from Hiharcik said that they felt this quake was "strong", but no casualty was reported yet.

Meanwhile, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, an earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale hit western Turkey Thursday at GMT 15:20:27.

Turkey has been frequently hit by earthquakes. A 7.2-magnitude quake in October last year and a 5.6-magnitude quake in November flattened some 2,000 buildings, killed 644 people and left thousands homeless in Turkey’s eastern province of Van.