A strong earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck parts of Turkey and Syria on Wednesday morning, prompting concerns and immediate responses from emergency services.
According to the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the quake originated in Malatya province, though, as of now, there have been no reports of casualties. The tremors were felt in several cities, including Diyarbakir, Elazig, and Malatya, as reported by Haber Turk television.
In Diyarbakir, residents evacuated their homes in fear, leading to chaotic scenes as people rushed outside. AFAD confirmed that their teams were on standby and conducting field assessments in affected areas.
In Syria, the state news agency reported that the quake was also felt in provinces such as Hasakah, Deir Al Zor, and Aleppo. The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre indicated that the earthquake occurred at a depth of approximately 5.6 miles.
Following the quake, AFAD utilized X, formerly Twitter, to provide updates for anxious citizens. The agency noted that 374 calls were made to the 112 Emergency Call Center in response to the earthquake. Additionally, four individuals were rescued from a partially collapsed building in Elazığ province.
Initial reports indicated that three buildings suffered damage across Malatya, Şanlıurfa, and Elazığ, with rockfalls reported in the Pötürge and Kale districts of Malatya. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed on X that the three affected buildings had “partially collapsed” and that emergency services received numerous distress calls.
Footage circulating on social media captured the frantic moments as office buildings shook, prompting occupants to flee as their environments seemed precarious.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities, suggesting a low likelihood of casualties. A Yellow alert for economic losses was also released, indicating potential localized damage.
This incident follows last year’s devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, which struck within a span of just 12 hours. The first quake, with a magnitude of 7.8, hit southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border, while a second tremor occurred four kilometers outside Ekinozu in central Turkey. This series of earthquakes marked one of the most catastrophic seismic events in Turkey in over two decades.
On that occasion, the first quake struck at 4:17 am local time (0117 GMT) at a depth of about 11 miles, according to the US Geological Survey. A powerful 6.7 aftershock followed approximately ten minutes later, further complicating the emergency response. The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management agency reported that the quakes resulted in numerous fatalities across seven provinces.
On February 20 of the same year, another significant earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale impacted the region. The total death toll from these seismic events is estimated to exceed 55,000, with countless others injured and displaced.
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