Turkish Red Crescent sends aid to earthquake victims in eastern Turkey

By Suat Ozturk

ELAZIG, Turkey (AA) - Turkish Red Crescent teams met the needs early Saturday of residents affected by a magnitude-5.2 earthquake in eastern Turkey.

The quake that rattled Bingol, partially affected the villages of Kusbayiri, Celebi, Yesilbelen, Sarihan and Can in the Karakocan district of eastern Elazig province.

Teams affiliated with the Elazig branch of the Turkish Red Crescent went to the villages affected by the tremor and distributed catering materials, including blankets, water, juice, cakes to the victims.

Volunteers also cared for an old woman who fell and injured her arm while running during the earthquake in Kusbayiri.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said the magnitude-5.2 quake struck the Kigi district at 9.28 p.m. (1828GMT).

It occurred at a depth of 15.51 kilometers (9.63 miles) below the surface, it said.

AFAD said the distance of the quake was 2.28 kilometers (1.41 miles) from the closest settlement area of Asagi Serinyer village.

At least 11 aftershocks were recorded with the strongest being magnitude-2.8, it added.

Bingol’s Governor Kadir Ekinci told Anadolu Agency that there have been no reports of damage or casualties.

Ekinci said gendarmerie and AFAD teams are on duty in the region.

Later, AFAD said two houses in Kusbayiri and Celebi sustained heavy damage from the quake.

It added that there were no deaths or injuries and 50 tents were sent to the area.

*Writing by Merve Berker