A powerful earthquake killed 41 people in eastern Turkey early on Monday, local officials said. The quake struck at 4:32 am local time (0232 GMT). It centred on the area of Basyurt in Elazig province. The quake had a magnitude of 6.0 and was followed by 30 minor aftershocks, Reuters reported.
The Elazig Crisis Centre said 41 people were killed and 50 injured, 10 of them seriously, NTV said. The quake toppled the minarets of three mosques in villages in the area, said Elazig Governor Muammer Erol.
A Red Crescent team has reached the area and set up a crisis centre. Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek and three other ministers were travelling to the quake zone, state-run Anatolian news agency reported.
