Over 250 injured in magnitude 6.5 quake in western Turkey

Ankara, May 24 (IANS) A total of 266 people were injured as people rushed about in panic as a 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit north Aegean Gokceada island in the country Saturday, Xinhua quoted Turkish emergency agency as saying.

"One person, who jumped down from a balcony in Balikesir's Edremit district, is in critical condition," the Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD) said in a statement.

Some 20 aftershocks were recorded after the earthquake, Xinhua reported.

The quake was felt in a large area in western and north-western Turkey, including Marmara region and Istanbul, the largest city of the country.

People rushed out onto the streets from their homes.

"The earthquake took approximately 22 seconds," Ahmet Cinar, governor of Canakkele province near Gokceada, said.

"There were no casualties or damage in his province, thanks to lunch time and good weather, people were outside," he added.