Many parts of eastern Turkey were shaken by a magnitude 5.9 earthquake on Wednesday, although there were no reports of casualties, Turkish media reported.
The tremor struck at 10:46 a.m. (0746 GMT) in Kale in Malatya province, which was badly hit by a strong magnitude 7.8 quake that struck on Febuary 6, 2023, killing more than 53,500 people in Turkey and nearly 6,000 in neighbouring Syria. State disaster management agency AFAD wrote on X:
“For now, there has been no loss of life nor destruction of property following the magnitude 5.9 earthquake.”
Shortly afterwards, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said there had been “partial collapse” of three buildings in three neighbourhoods and that the emergency services had received dozens of calls for help.
Local authorities in Malatya also said there were no “negative developments” at the moment, although the provincial governor said all primary and secondary schools would be closed for the day.
AFP correspondents said the tremors were felt in several major cities in the region, including Diyarbakir, 140 kilometres (almost 90 miles) to the southeast. Residents in several cities immediately ran into the streets after feeling the quake, Turkish TV channels said.
Medical teams are continuing on-site examinations, Turkey’s health ministry said. Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Ozdemir Göktaş ordered to start work on psychological support in the regions where the earthquake was felt.
