30 dead as strong earthquake hits east Turkey: governor

ANKARA (AFP) May 01, 2003
Some 30 people died when an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale hit the eastern Turkish province of Bingol early Thursday, Bingol Governor Avni Cos said, quoted by private NTV television.

Several buildings collapsed in the centre of Bingol city and electricity was cut off, he said.

Soldiers were taking part in rescue work, he added.

Housing Minister Zeki Ergezen said "many" students from a school in the village of Cetlikli were buried under rubble.

The quake occurred at 3:27 am (0037 GMT) and caused "considerable" damage, TRT public television said.

Many injured people had been hospitalized, it said.

The Strasbourg Observatory in France said the epicentre of the quake was situated in the Diyarbakir region at 38.94 degrees latitude and 40.90 longitude.

SPACE.WIRE