Dozens injured in Turkey quake

A moderate earthquake shook south-eastern Turkey today, injuring more than two dozen people who fled their homes in panic.

The quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.3, was centred in the town of Silivre, in the province of Elazig, the Istanbul-based based Kandilli Observatory said. It struck at 4.22am local time.

The quake was felt in neighbouring provinces and at least 28 people were taken to hospital after jumping from balconies and windows in fear of being trapped in their homes, local governor Muammer Musmal said.

The quake cracked walls but caused no serious damage, he said.

Elazig is 450 miles south east of Ankara, the capital.

Earthquakes are frequent in Turkey, which lies on active fault lines. Two devastating earthquakes in 1999 killed around 18,000 people.