Based on preliminary measurements, the magnitude of the earthquake is 6.3–6.4.
19:18•Updated 19:59
A strong earthquake has hit the Hatay province in southern Turkey, on the border between Turkey and Syria.
Based on preliminary measurements, the magnitude of the earthquake is 6.3–6.4. The earthquake was followed a few minutes later by an aftershock with a magnitude of 5.8.
According to the USGS, the larger earthquake occurred at a depth of ten kilometers northwest of the city of Antakya. According to the European EMSC, the earthquake would have occurred at a depth of two kilometers, reports Reuters.
Turkish media Hürriyet (you switch to another service) says Turkey’s major accident and emergency agency, AFAD, that the depth of the larger earthquake would have been measured at 17 kilometers. The information thus far varies. AFAD soon urged people to exercise caution and warned them not to enter damaged buildings.
An eyewitness tells the news agency Reuters that he heard sounds in the city of Antakya, based on which the earthquake would have damaged buildings. He says that the authorities checked the local situations quickly.
Several eyewitnesses tell Reuters that the earthquake was felt at least in Syria, Egypt and Lebanon.
Reporter: The country let you down
CNN Turkey reporter, who was in the earthquake area Buse Deviren described for media (you switch to another service)that the country failed the people.
– The children were very scared. It was a huge earthquake, Deviren described.
Deviren was in the tent area built in Antakya, where those who lost their homes in the previous earthquake live.
Just two weeks of massive destruction
It wasn’t until February 6 that an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 hit the southern part of Turkey. Later that day, another strong earthquake and several smaller tremors were observed in the area. As a result of the earthquakes, at least 44,000 people died in Turkey and Syria.