Southern Turkey and the border region with Syria have been hit by another strong earthquake.
The earthquake struck the Hatay province in southern Turkey, with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3โ6.4, and was followed a few minutes later by an aftershock measuring 5.8 in magnitude.
According to reports from Reuters, the governor of Hatay province has stated that there are people in the ruins, while Vice President Fuat Oktay has confirmed that eight people have been injured.
The larger earthquake occurred at a depth of ten kilometers northwest of the city of Antakya, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). However, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) has reported that the earthquake occurred at a depth of two kilometers.
Turkey’s major accident and emergency agency, AFAD, has measured the depth of the larger earthquake at 17 kilometers. As a result of these discrepancies in depth measurement, AFAD has urged people to exercise caution and avoid entering damaged buildings.
Eyewitnesses have reported feeling the earthquake in Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon. Buse Deviren, a journalist for CNN Tรผrk who was in the earthquake area, has described the earth slipping from under the people, causing fear and panic, especially among children. Deviren was in the tent area built in Antakya, where those who lost their homes in the previous earthquake live.
This recent earthquake comes less than three weeks after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit the southern part of Turkey, with several smaller tremors and another strong earthquake following later that day. As a result of these earthquakes, at least 44,000 people died in Turkey and Syria. The current extent of damage and the total number of casualties from the latest earthquake are yet to be fully determined.
