One person died and several were reported injured this morning when an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale struck the Pulumur region in eastern Turkey.
Several buildings were damaged by the tremor and aftershocks were felt in several major cities of the a sparsely populated region, the state-run Anatolian news agency said.
Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said bad weather conditions were hampering rescue efforts. "There are 45 villages in Pulumur. We have managed to reach nearly all them," he said.
Three people were injured in the nearby city of Erzincan after they panicked and jumped from buildings during the tremor, the agency reported.
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The Turkish Red Crescent has sent tents and other equipment to the region, Anatolian said.