New 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocks Turkey
The earthquake shook Turkey and Syria, causing mass panic just weeks after twin quakes killed 46,000 people.
A fresh 6.3-magnitude earthquake has shaken the southern Turkey and northern Syria areas, causing mass panic among a jittery population, just weeks after twin quakes killed 46,000 people.
The new quake, which struck shortly after 8pm local time Tuesday night (4am AEDT) caused panic among residents, many of whom are living in temporary tents and shelters and caused some already damaged buildings to collapse. A large aftershock of 5.8 magnitude followed soon after.
Turkey’s disaster management agency, AFAD, said the new quake was centred around the town of Defne, in Hatay province. The US geological survey said the centre of the quake was near the town of Uzunbag, in Turkey’s Hatay Province.
This is the same area that was devastated by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6 and then a 7.5-magnitude quake later that same day that resulted in high rise residential buildings collapsing and killing thousands of people.
The Syrian civil defence group White Helmets reported that multiple buildings had collapsed in Idlib and rural areas of Alepp including Jindires, Salquin and Atareb as a result of the latest quakes.
The group tweeted: “Several civilians injured from falling building debris, stampedes, and jumping from high areas. Additionally, in Jenderes, north of Aleppo two uninhabited buildings and the minaret of a mosque collapsed.”
Footage of people diving for cover in an airport hangar, as well as confusion on the streets flooded social media accounts.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay on Twitter urged people to stay away from damaged buildings and to follow officials’ warnings.
According to AFAD, Turkey’s disaster and emergency management, more than 6000 aftershocks have been recorded since the 7.8-magnitude hit Turkey and Syria, leaving millions homeless.
Officials said after the February 6 quake that aftershocks would be felt for a year because of the force of the first tremor.
The latest tremors were felt in Jordan, Israel and Egypt.
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