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 ANKARA,
Turkey (AP) -- An earthquake rocked central Turkey on Friday,
starting a fire that killed five people. Dozens were injured
when they threw themselves from windows and balconies in
panic, officials said.
The
quake toppled a spire on a mosque, sparking the blaze that
claimed five lives in the village of Yasarlar in Konya province,
provincial Gov. Ahmet Kayhan said.
The
mosque was packed with men gathered for evening prayers
during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and it wasn"t
clear if there were injured.
The
quake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.8, the Istanbul-based
Kandilli observatory and the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Quakes of that strength can cause considerable damage in
populated areas.
The
temblor was centered between the towns of Ilgin and Bolvadin
in Afyon province, 160 miles southwest of Ankara. The quake
badly frightened residents, who recalled earthquakes that
devastated northwestern Turkey a year ago, killing 18,000
people.
Kayhan
said 41 people were hurt in Ilgin and nearby Akeshir when
they jumped from buildings for fear of being trapped. Six
people were treated for shock, he added. A spire on a mosque
in Ilgin crumbled.
The
quake toppled three houses and knocked down utility poles,
causing blackouts. It broke open cracks in several buildings,
including the state hospital of Bolvadin.
Kayhan
said relief workers were distributing blankets for residents
afraid to return to their homes. Authorities were trying
to calm panicked people in loudspeaker announcements, the
Anatolia news agency said.
Friday"s
quake was also felt in neighboring provinces of Isparta,
Antalya, Burdur, Kayseri and Ankara. People trying to reach
their relatives jammed telephone lines.
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