5.9-magnitude earthquake hits eastern Turkiye
A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Türkiye on Wednesday, but no immediate injuries were reported, officials said.
The quake hit at 10:46 am (0746 GMT) in Kale, Malatya—a region heavily affected by the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake on Febru 6, 2023, which claimed over 53,500 lives in Türkiye and nearly 6,000 in Syria.
Türkiye’s AFAD disaster management agency posted on X, stating, “At present, there has been no loss of life or property damage following the 5.9 magnitude earthquake.”
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya later confirmed that three buildings had “partially collapsed” in different areas, and emergency services received dozens of calls for help.
Local authorities in Malatya reported no “negative developments,” though the provincial governor ordered the closure of all prim and second schools for the day.
The quake was strongly felt in various cities, including Diyarbakir, located about 140 kilometers (90 miles) to the southeast, according to AFP correspondents, and was also felt in Syria’s Hasakah, Deir al-Zor, and Aleppo provinces, as reported by the state news agency.
Television footage showed residents rushing into the streets in several cities after experiencing the tremors.