A building collapsed in Golcuk, trapping several people, officials said MESSAGE BOARDS: Mediterranean quake

September 13, 1999
Web posted at: 9:14 a.m. EDT (1314 GMT)

IZMIT, Turkey (CNN) -- A 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit northwestern Turkey on Monday, collapsing a building and injuring an undetermined number of people, Turkish officials said.

The quake struck at about 3 p.m. (1200 GMT), and was felt in Istanbul, where phone lines were reported dead. In Golcuk, a building collapsed, trapping several people, local authorities said.

There were no immediate reports of deaths. Panicked residents fled homes and businesses, running into the streets.

It was the strongest quake since a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey August 17, killing more than 14,000 people. Like the August 17 quake, Monday's tremor was reportedly centered near Izmit, 80 kilometers (50 miles) southeast of Istanbul.

Officials were uncertain if the quake was an aftershock from the previous quake or a new one altogether.

Several unoccupied buildings, which had been condemned after the initial quake, collapsed in Izmit and Istanbul.