A second powerful quake, measuring 5,9 on the Richter scale, rocked the western Turkish city of Izmir on Monday, a spokesperson for the Kandilli observatory in Istanbul said.
The tremblor struck at 12.47pm local time with an epicentre under the Aegean Sea off the town of Seferihisar, which lies about 40km south-west of Izmir, the spokesperson said.
The quake sent people rushing out on to the streets in panic, witnesses said.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
The quake came only a few hours after another powerful quake with an epicentre under the Aegean Sea shook the area and was felt by several coastal towns in western Turkey and on nearby Greek islands.
Japan jolted
A moderately strong earthquake measuring 5,1 on the Richter scale jolted central Japan on Sunday, temporarily suspending subway services and triggering delays on bullet trains, officials said.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, and subway trains in Tokyo that stopped after the quake resumed normal operations shortly afterwards, they said.
Highway authorities temporarily lowered the speed limit at certain highway sections after the temblor, which was strong enough to cause Shinkansen bullet trains to delay runs by a few minutes.
However, the quake did not have major effects on trains and public transportation systems in the greater Tokyo area, train and highway officials said.
The epicentre of the quake, which occurred at about 4.05pm local time, was in Ibaraki prefecture, 55km north-east of Tokyo, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Its focus was 40km underground.
Japan endures 20% of the world’s major earthquakes. — AFP
