ISTANBUL (AP) – A powerful earthquake hit eastern Turkey on Saturday but no casualties or serious damage were immediately reported, the country’s disaster service said.
The 5.2 magnitude quake struck the town of Puturge in Malatya province at 5.02pm local time (1402 GMT), Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) said.
The tremor was recorded at a depth of 6.7km. “We have not received any negative reports so far. Our teams continue their scanning activities in the field,” Malatya Governor Aydin Barus told the state-run Anadolu Agency.
Environment and Urbanisation Minister Murat Kurum tweeted that the Turkish government was closely following the situation.
