On Wednesday, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake shook many areas of eastern Turkey, although there were no immediate reports of injuries, according to officials. The quake occurred at 10:46 am in Kale, a town in the Malatya province, which was severely affected by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6, 2023, that killed over 53,500 people in Turkey and almost 6,000 in neighboring Syria.
The state’s AFAD disaster management agency reported that there was no loss of life or significant destruction following the earthquake. However, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that three buildings had partially collapsed in different areas, and emergency services received several dozen calls for help.
The tremor was strongly felt in several large cities in the region, including Diyarbakir, which is about 140 kilometers to the southeast. Residents in several cities immediately rushed into the streets upon feeling the quake, as shown in images broadcast by Turkish television stations.
Local officials in Malatya reported no negative developments at this stage, but the provincial governor announced that all primary and secondary schools would be closed for the day.