ISTANBUL: A 5.9-magnitude earthquake shook eastern Turkey on Wednesday, prompting panic, however, no immediate reports of fatalities or major destruction.
The tremor struck at 10:46 AM local time (0746 GMT) in the town of Kale, located in Malatya province, an area still reeling from a catastrophic 7.8-magnitude earthquake that occurred in 2023, which resulted in over 53,500 deaths in Turkey and nearly 6,000 in neighboring Syria.
The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) of Turkey reported on X that there were no initial losses of life or significant property damage following the earthquake.
However, shortly thereafter, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that three buildings had “partially collapsed” in separate locations, and emergency services had received multiple calls for assistance.
Yerlikaya stated that 187 persons were affected by the earthquake, with 43 of them admitted to hospitals for observation; many have since been discharged.
Local officials in Malatya confirmed that there were no significant negative developments reported, although the provincial governor decided to close all primary and secondary schools for the day as a precaution.
The tremor was felt across a wide area, including larger cities like Diyarbakir, approximately 140 kilometers (nearly 90 miles) southeast of the epicenter.
Eyewitness accounts and images broadcast by Turkish television showed residents fleeing their homes and gathering in the streets in response to the quake.
