An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale shook an eastern region of Turkey overnight, killing at least nine people and injuring dozens more.
At least four children were among the dead, the state Anatolian news agency reported. CNN Turk television said houses in villages across three provinces and near the town of Erzurum suffered serious damage.
The Public Works Ministry said Askale county was the epicentre of the quake. As many as 51 aftershocks shook the region.
"The Red Crescent and military units are setting up tents for survivors. . . .We will solve the accommodation problem as soon as possible," Health Minister Recep Akdag told Anatolian.
Turkey is criss-crossed with earthquake fault lines and poor construction of buildings has often led to high death tolls.
In May 2003, at least 167 people - including many schoolchildren - were killed by a quake in the eastern province of Bingol. In 1999, around 20,000 people were killed by a quake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale near Turkey's biggest city of Istanbul.
