Strong earthquake hits Cyprus, Turkey

Nicosia: An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 rattled the small island nation of Cyprus and was felt throughout the east Mediterranean region, the country’s Geological Survey Department said on Tuesday. No damage or injuries have so far been reported.

The powerful tremor struck at 3:08 am (0108 GMT) and its epicenter was 50 kilometers (31 miles) off the island’s western coastline at a depth of 25 kilometers (15.5 miles).

The Geological Survey Department said several aftershocks followed the main quake.

The quake shook some out of their beds, especially in the island’s western district of Paphos where it was felt most strongly. Many slept through it and woke up to the rhythms of their daily routine.

Police told state broadcaster CyBC that additional patrols have been dispatched throughout the island, but have not reported any damage.

Many along the Mediterranean coast of neighboring Turkey also felt the quake, but there have been no reports of casualties or damage.

In some districts of Turkey’s southern Antalya province, people rushed out of their beds into the streets after they felt the shaking, the DHA news agency reported.

Cyprus lies in an active seismic zone where it’s estimated that 15% of the world’s earthquakes occur. The last major quake, measuring 6.8, happened in 1996 and was the island’s strongest in the previous 120 years.

SOURCE: AP