Quakes hit Azeri regions; one dead
By Nigar Orujova
One person died and six people were injured after an earthquake hit Azerbaijan's north-western Balakan region, head of the local body in charge of handling emergencies said Monday.
In total, 30 people sought medical aid after the disaster, Azad Balayev, Balakan Region Emergency Situations Commission chairman, told the local press.
According to Balakan Central Hospital head physician Hajiomar Nuriyev, 76-year-old Zinadova Khajabanu Mahammad fell down during the tremors and suffered a brain injury. The elderly resident of the Kortala village was hospitalized on Sunday, but died in the hospital at night.
The Azerbaijan Seismology Center recorded a total of six earthquakes with magnitudes ranging between 3.0 and 6.0 points, in the north-western Zagatala region, 411 km from the capital Baku, on Azerbaijan's border with Georgia in the Balakan region and in the southern Lerik region, 325 km from Baku.
According to Balakan region's executive authority, the tremors were strong, and people left their homes and workplaces.
Azad Balayev said that residential houses, social facilities and a number of schools were damaged. At present, the damage inflicted by the earthquake is being assessed.
Ten houses were destroyed and 590 are in emergency condition as a result of the earthquake. Two secondary schools, one hospital and one mosque, one culture center, and one post-office were damaged. Classes were suspended in local schools.
According to deputy chief of the Zagatala region's executive authority, Elman Ramazanov, 15 houses in several villages of the region were damaged and are currently in emergency condition.