Magnitude 5.7 aftershock hits near Van, Turkey

The already hard hit Van-Ercis area was hit by another earthquake/aftershock during the evening of November 9, 2011.

According to the EMSC, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake hit area of Van with epicenter 12 km (19 miles) SW of Van at a depth of 6 km (5.8 miles). USGS also recorded magnitude 5.6 and placed depth at 5 km (3.1 miles). Kandili Observatory recorded M5.6 at a depth of 5 km. DEPREM recorded the same magnitude and a depth of 21 km.

USGS issued a yellow alert level for economic losses. Additional damage and injuries are almost a certainty.  This earthquake has killed at least three people and collapsed 21 buildings including a hotel in eastern Turkey.

Koeri puts the epicenter right on the town of Edremit. It is unclear what effects the earthquake has had there in this town on the outskirts of Van located on Lake Van.

Yesterday, another M5.7 aftershock struck the area.