On Thursday at 11.48 am, an earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter Scale shook the Bala district in Ankara. Fortunately, there was no loss of life, and only minor material damage on the first day of the Feast of Sacrifice.
The Bosphorus University Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute in Kandilli, Istanbul, categorised the earthquake as "strong". In the month of December, 16 weak earthquakes had been registered in the Ankara area, fifteen of them in Bala.
Some buildings damaged, many animals died
According to Cnnturk.com, the minaret of a mosque in Yeniyapan village collapsed, and other buildings were damaged. 10-15 out of use mud brick houses in the Sirapinar town collapsed, and the chimneys of newer houses were damaged.
The Abazlar village and Afsar town also experienced some damage to mosque minarets and animal shelters. In the Suyugüzel village in Afsar, around 100 animals were killed by collapsing shelters.
The Turkish Red Cresecent sent a disaster operations team to the area.
According to the Ntvmsbnc.com site, the earthquake was felt in the provinces of Konya, Aksaray, Kirrikkale, Cankiri, Kayseri and Yozgat, too. (NZ/TK)