Quake of magnitude 5.7 hits Azerbaijan, no report of casualties

An earthquake of magnitude 5.7 hit the Caspian Sea, off the coast of Azerbaijan.

Tremors were recorded 43 kilometres northeast of Khachmaz District in northern Azerbaijan with the epicentre at a depth of 35 km, Caliber.Az reports with reference to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) of Azerbaijan soon after the earthquake said no information was received about casualties or damage, Caliber.Az reports, citing the press service of the ministry.

Tremors were felt in Baku and other cities, the report added.

Likewise, the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry said it did not receive information about the victims of the earthquake, adding that the allegations spread on social networks were completely unfounded and did not correspond to reality, Report news agency informed with reference to the press service of the ministry.

“The Interior Ministry has set special tasks for the police, a continuous service has been organized with the involvement of additional forces. There is no particular concern,” the ministry said.

In a similar vein, Director-General of the Republican Seismological Service Centre Gurban Yetirmishli ruled out a strong earthquake in the country, Caliber.Az reports, citing APA news agency.

There should be small shocks, aftershocks, but a strong earthquake is not expected, he said.

The Association for the Management of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB) also reported about the transition to the enhanced mode of operation as instructed by the Executive Director of TABIB Vugar Gurbanov, who was quoted as saying that the emergency and emergency medical care stations in Baku city and districts, as well as the ambulance departments of medical institutions, switched to an enhanced mode of operation.

A total of 125 medical brigades of the Baku city emergency medical aid station have been involved in operation, Report informed.

“Currently, ambulance teams have been sent to areas and streets where people have accumulated relatively massively,” the report said, adding that taking into account the possibility of a need for medical services, the heads of medical institutions under TABIB were given appropriate instructions.

Meanwhile, the Azerbaijan Railways company carries out a comprehensive inspection of the road infrastructure after the earthquake occurred at night, Caliber.Az reports.

Immediately after the Caspian Sea earthquake occurred around 00:01 a.m. on July 4, 158 km north of Baku, the company’s Commission on Emergency Situations started conducting technical examinations of all infrastructure objects during the night to July 3.

During the night the state of artificial engineering structures (bridges, crossings, tunnels, etc.) was checked and this process continues.

Due to technical diagnostics carried out at the railway infrastructure facilities, train speeds have been partially reduced and therefore slight deviations in train timetables may be observed.