Quake in Iran kills nine in Turkey

Afp, Istanbul
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake in northwestern Iran yesterday killed at least nine people in neighbouring Turkey and injured dozens more on both sides of the border, authorities said.

The epicentre of the quake, which struck at 9:23 am (0553 GMT), was near the Iranian village of Habash-e Olya, less than 10 kilometres (six miles) from the border, according to the US Geological Survey.

The earthquake had a depth of six kilometres, said Tehran University's Seismological Centre.

In Turkey, it was felt mostly in the eastern district of Baskale in Van province on the Iran border. Turkish broadcaster NTV showed images of collapsed adobe houses in several snow-covered villages in Van province.

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said nine people were killed, speaking to reporters from the quake scene in Van. Four of the dead were children. Turkish officials said some schools were also damaged in several villages.

"We have right now no citizens trapped under the rubble," he said.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said 37 people were injured and nine of them were in critical condition.

The impact of the quake in Iran was less severe, according to latest reports. It injured at least 40 people in Iran's West Azerbaijan province, 17 of whom had been hospitalised, the country's emergency services said.

The same source also said there was damage to buildings in 43 villages.