6.2-magnitude earthquake shakes western Turkey, Greek island

ISTANBUL — An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 shakes western Turkey and the Greek island of Lesbos Monday, scaring residents and damaging buildings.

Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management says that the earthquake’s epicenter is in the Aegean Sea at the very shallow depth of seven kilometers (some four miles) and hits at 3:28 p.m. (1228 GMT). At least 20 aftershocks are recorded. Tremors are felt in densely populated Istanbul and in the western Turkish provinces of Izmir.

Authorities in Lesbos say dozens of homes are damaged in parts of the island and some roads are closed, but there are no reports of serious injuries. “We are advising residents in affected areas of Lesbos to remain outdoors until buildings can be inspected,” senior seismologist Efthimios Lekkas says.

Turkey’s emergency management agency says there were no reports of casualties in the country.

Earthquakes are frequent in Greece and Turkey, which are on active fault lines. Two devastating earthquakes hit northwestern Turkey in 1999, killing some 18,000 people.

— AP