A 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolted eastern Turkey on Wednesday, with no immediate reports of injuries, as per official sources.
The earthquake hit at 10:46 AM (0746 GMT) near Kale in Malatya, a province that had already experienced significant devastation from a 7.8-magnitude quake on February 6, 2023, which resulted in over 53,500 fatalities in Turkey and nearly 6,000 in Syria.
Turkey’s disaster management agency, AFAD, announced on X that there were currently no reports of casualties or significant property damage resulting from the 5.9-magnitude quake.
However, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that three buildings partially collapsed in different locations, prompting emergency services to respond to numerous calls for help.
Local authorities in Malatya reported no serious incidents at this time, but the provincial governor decided to close all primary and secondary schools for the day.
The tremor was felt across several cities, including Diyarbakir, located around 140 kilometers (90 miles) to the southeast. It was also experienced in Syria’s Hasakah, Deir al-Zor, and Aleppo provinces, according to the state news agency.
Television reports captured footage of residents in various cities fleeing to the streets following the earthquake’s impact.