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Monday, March 8, 2010

Strong Quake Shakes Turkey

clipped from www.foxnews.com
OKCULAR, Turkey —  A strong, pre-dawn earthquake struck eastern Turkey on Monday, killing 51 people as it knocked down stone and mud-brick houses and minarets in at least six villages, the government said.

The earthquake surprised many residents as they slept, crumpling buildings into piles of rubble. Panicked survivors fled into the narrow village streets, some climbing out of windows, as more than 50 aftershocks measuring up to 5.5 and 5.3 magnitude rattled the region.

The government initially put the death toll at 57 but later lowered it to 51 with no explanation. In addition to the deaths, 34 people were being treated for injuries, Turkey's crisis center said.

The worst-hit area was the village of Okcular, where 19 of the village's 900 residents were killed.

Another 13 people were killed in the nearby village of Yukari Demirci, Gov. Muammer Erol said, adding that by noon everyone had been removed from the rubble.
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