A 5.2 magnitude earthquake rattled the Kurdish province of Malatya in eastern Turkey on Thursday, as reported by Turkish authorities. The quake, centered in Battalgazi town, was followed by a 4.7 magnitude tremor just three minutes later, according to Turkish state media.
Fortunately, there were no reported material losses or casualties as a result of the earthquakes, as confirmed by Turkish authorities. Despite the absence of significant damage, many families chose to evacuate their homes, expressing concerns that a more powerful tremor might follow.
This seismic activity comes against the backdrop of two earthquakes that struck 11 provinces, including Malatya, in southern Turkey on February 6. Those earlier quakes resulted in tragic consequences, claiming over 50,000 lives and causing extensive destruction to thousands of buildings, according to official figures.
The Turkish government faced criticism from the opposition for a perceived slow response to the earthquake aftermath. The criticism was largely attributed to inadequate preventive measures taken by the government following the Elazig and Izmir earthquakes in 2020, which claimed a total of 161 lives.
In response to the recent earthquakes, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged compensation and the restoration of collapsed buildings. Additionally, he committed to delivering new residential units within a year as part of the ongoing recovery efforts.
