The Turkish Minister of Interior, Ali Yerlikaya, announced that a recent earthquake which hit Malatya province resulted in 22 minor injuries, fortunately, no fatalities were reported. The earthquake occurred on Thursday.
According to Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, the minister mentioned that many of these injuries were a consequence of panic, as some of the victims jumped from elevated areas due to fear.
Yerli Qaya also highlighted that Turkish rescue teams are still on the ground, diligently conducting field surveys in the aftermath of the earthquake. The epicenter was identified in the Yeshilyurt area of Malatya, and the quake measured a magnitude of 5.3.
The minister went on to say that preliminary data indicates an abandoned building collapsed due to the earthquake. Two other buildings, previously damaged by the Kahramanmaraş earthquake in February, have shown signs of leaning. Efforts are continuously underway to assess the damage and provide essential support to those affected.
In a separate statement, the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) confirmed that the earthquake, centered in the Yeshilyurt region of Malatya province, registered a magnitude of 5.3 on the Richter scale and originated 7 kilometers below the Earth’s surface.
It’s worth noting that last month, the southern Turkish provinces of Adana and Osmaniye experienced an earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale.
Furthermore, a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook southern Turkey and northern Syria in the early hours of February 6. The tremors were felt in other neighboring countries as well. The World Health Organization estimated that approximately 23 million people were impacted by this catastrophic event, which inflicted severe damage to thousands of structures, including schools, healthcare facilities, and other vital infrastructures in both Turkey and Syria.
