A magnitude 5.9 earthquake shook the Malatya province of eastern Turkey on Wednesday, causing damage to several buildings but, fortunately, leaving no casualties in its wake. The quake was reported by the country’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and sent tremors across both Turkey and neighboring Syria.
Buildings Damaged, No Casualties
The earthquake struck at 10:46 a.m. local time (0746 GMT), with its epicenter located in the Kale district, about 40 kilometers east of the city of Malatya. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that three buildings partially collapsed but emphasized that there were no reports of casualties.
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In total, nearly 190 people sought medical treatment across six provinces, with 43 of them still under observation in local hospitals. The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre recorded the earthquake as having a magnitude of 6.1 and at a shallow depth of 9 kilometers.
Widespread Panic, Tremors Felt in Syria
The earthquake was felt across various regions of Turkey, including Diyarbakir, Elazig, Sanliurfa, and Tunceli, triggering widespread panic. In some areas, people rushed into the streets, afraid to return to their homes, while schools in Malatya and Elazig were ordered closed. In the city of Elazig, several people sustained minor injuries after jumping from windows during the panic.
The tremors were also felt in northern Syria, including in Hasakah, Deir al-Zor, and Aleppo provinces, according to Syria’s state news agency.
Inspections and Aftermath
In the aftermath of the quake, AFAD, along with police and gendarmerie security teams, conducted inspections across affected provinces to assess damage and ensure public safety. Four buildings in Malatya, Sanliurfa, and Elazig were reported to have been damaged. In Elazig, four individuals were safely rescued from a partially collapsed building.
Malatya, still recovering from the devastating 2023 earthquake that killed over 53,000 people in Turkey, has seen many at-risk buildings either demolished or evacuated since then. Despite the extensive damage caused by the 2023 disaster, Wednesday’s quake caused significantly less structural harm due to these precautionary measures.
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Turkey sits at the convergence of two major fault lines, making it one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the world. Its geographical position subjects the country to frequent and often devastating seismic activity. Over the years, Turkey has witnessed numerous destructive earthquakes, including the catastrophic 1999 quake in the northwest, which claimed over 17,000 lives and remains one of the deadliest in the nation’s history