A powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck parts of Turkey and Syria on Monday, just two weeks after a massive tremor that killed around 45,000 people. The new earthquake was centered in the town of Defne, in Turkey’s Hatay province, one of the worst-hit regions in the earlier quake. Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said three people were killed and 213 were injured in the latest quake, as more buildings collapsed. The earthquake was felt in Syria, Jordan, Israel, and as far away as Egypt, and was followed by a second magnitude 5.8 quake.
The Turkish city of Adana was among the areas affected, with witness Alejandro Malaver describing how people left their homes for the streets, carrying blankets into their cars. “People are really scared, and no one wants to get back into their houses,” he said. The Syrian Civil Defence group, known as the White Helmets, reported that several people were injured in the rebel-held northwest after they jumped from buildings or were struck by falling debris.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the affected area on Monday and said his government would begin constructing close to 200,000 new homes in the quake-devastated region as early as next month. The Turkish government has recorded over 6,000 aftershocks since the initial earthquake on February 6. The death toll from the earlier quake has risen to 41,156, increasing the overall death toll in Turkey and Syria to 44,844.
Earthquake in Turkey
The earthquake caused widespread damage and panic in the affected areas, with many buildings collapsing and trapping people inside. Lutfu Savas, the mayor of Hatay, said that those trapped may be people who had either returned to their homes or were trying to move furniture from damaged properties. The Syrian American Medical Society reported treating several patients, including a seven-year-old boy, who suffered heart attacks brought on by fear after the new quake.
As the region continues to grapple with the aftermath of the disaster, authorities have issued warnings to citizens to stay away from damaged buildings and follow rescue teams’ directions. The Turkish government has also alerted citizens to the possibility of rising sea levels, but the warning was later lifted. The situation remains unstable, with more aftershocks expected in the coming days.
