Earthquake ravages six villages in eastern Turkey, killing 51

Okcular, Turkey:  A strong, pre-dawn earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6 struck eastern Turkey on Monday, killing 51 people as it knocked down stone and mud-brick houses and minarets in at least six villages, the government said.

The earthquake surprised many people as they slept, crumpling buildings into piles of rubble. Panicked survivors fled into the narrow village streets, some climbing out of windows, as more than 50 aftershocks measuring up to 5.5 and 5.3 magnitude rattled the region.

The Kandilli seismology centre said the quake hit at 4.32am (6.32am UAE time) near the village of Basyurt in Elazig province, about 550 kilometres east of Ankara, the capital.

The government initially put the death toll at 57 but later lowered it to 51. In addition to the deaths, about 34 people were being treated for injuries from the quake, Turkey's crisis centre said.

The worst-hit area was the village of Okcular, where 17 people were killed.

As relatives rushed in for news of their loved ones, authorities blocked off the area so ambulances and rescue teams could manoeuvre on the village's narrow roads. Residents lit fires to keep warm in the winter cold.

"The village is totally flattened," village administrator Hasan Demirdag told private NTV television.

Ali Riza Ferhat of Okcular said he was woken up by the jolt.

"I tried to get out of the door but it wouldn't open. I came out of the window and started helping my neighbours," he told NTV television. "We removed six bodies."

"Everything has been knocked down, there is not a stone in place," said Yadin Apaydin, administrator for the village of Yukari Kanatli, where he said at least three people died.