UPDATE - Magnitude 5.7 earthquake hits eastern Turkey

UPDATES WITH MORE DEVELOPMENTS

By Davut Demircan

ANKARA (AA) – A magnitude 5.7 earthquake trembled Turkey's eastern province of Bingol on Sunday, according to the nation's disaster agency.

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority said the quake struck the Karliova district at 5.24 p.m. local time (1424GMT).

In the village of Kaynarpinar, two observation towers belonging to the police station collapsed and three village guards were injured, the Bingol Governorate said.

A total of seven people, including a village guard, were rescued from the wreckage and efforts are ongoing to save three people, including a village guard, under debris, the governor’s office added.

Some 10 homes have been partially damaged in Elmali and Dinarbey villages of Yedisu district. No casualties have been reported so far, said Bingol Governor Kadir Ekinci.

Also, two aftershocks have been recorded with magnitude 4.6 at 5.34 p.m. local time (1434GMT) and magnitude 4.7 at 6.09 p.m. local time (1509GMT) in Karliova.

Environment and Urbanization Minister Murat Kurum said rescue teams were sent to the region.

Bingol is surrounded by mountains and numerous glacier lakes, and has recently become a popular tourist destination.

Vice President Fuat Oktay, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Kurum will head to the province to supervise the relief efforts.

Tremors were also felt in neighboring provinces, including Erzurum, Trabzon, Erzincan, Kars, Batman, Diyarbakir, Siirt, Mardin, Elazig and Malatya.