Deadly earthquake rattles Albania

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By Associated Press  with NBC News World News
Deadly earthquake rattles Albania

TIRANA, Albania — A strong earthquake shook Albania early Tuesday, killing at least four people, injuring 150 and collapsing buildings.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 6.4 quake was centered 19 miles northwest of the capital, Tirana. It had at a depth of 12 miles

The Defense Ministry said a man and a woman were killed when a building collapsed in Thumane, 22 miles north of Tirana. It said another person died after jumping from his home to escape shaking from the quake in Kurbin, 30 miles north of the capital.

Another person was killed when a building collapsed in Durres, 20 miles west of Tirana, emergency officials said. Rescuers were working to take out other people from the building.

The quake was felt along the Albanian coast.

Authorities reported scores of aftershocks and called on people in the most affected areas to stay out of their homes.

People reported seeing cracks in their apartment walls. People were seen leaving homes to go to open areas.

Local media reported that a restaurant was destroyed in western Durres.

At least three apartment buildings and the power distribution station were damaged in Thumane.

An earthquake in September in roughly the same area damaged hundreds of homes.