An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 hit a city in northwestern Turkey in the early hours of the morning, causing panic among residents. At least 68 people were injured.
The tremors were also felt in Istanbul, Ankara and other parts of the region. The earthquake woke people from their sleep and many of them went out into the streets in panic as the province has also experienced strong earthquakes with great destruction in the past.
About 800 people were killed after a powerful earthquake struck the region on November 12, 1999.
In August of the same year, 17,000 people were killed by another powerful earthquake that devastated other parts of northwestern Turkey.
Officials have said that about 80% of the buildings in the area were rebuilt or fortified after 1999, which helped minimize the damage. Turkey is one of the countries most at risk from earthquakes.
