Magnitude 5 earthquake hits Turkey's eastern province of Van

* Map: AFAD

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The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) has announced that a 4.9-magnitude earthquake happened in Tuşba district in Van province at 12.46 am today (December 6).

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 7.62 kilometers (4.73 miles) below the surface, the AFAD has stated further.

The Kandilli Observatory of Boğaziçi University, on the other hand, has announced the magnitude of the quake as 5 and its depth as 5 kilometers.

Van Governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez has told the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) that according to initial reports, there has been no loss of life or property. Governor Bilmez has added that the AFAD teams, gendarmerie officers and 112 rescue teams continue to search the region.

In a statement about the incident, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has also said on Twitter that teams from the ministry's provincial directorate were sent to the region to conduct the necessary investigations.

NOTE: Following the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Van on October 23, 2011 and claimed the lives of 604 people, a second earthquake happened on November 9 and 40 people lost their lives.

(TP/SD)