ISTANBUL (TDI): A moderately strong earthquake struck eastern Turkiye on Wednesday, causing widespread panic among residents, officials reported.
Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of serious injuries or significant damage.
The earthquake, measuring 5.9 in magnitude, hit the town of Kale in Malatya province at 10:46 a.m. local time (07:46 GMT), according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).
It was felt in nearby cities including Diyarbakir, Elazig, Erzincan, and Tunceli, as reported by HaberTurk television.
Also Read: Pakistan grieves over devastating earthquake in Afghanistan
Malatya Mayor Sami Er told the state-run Anadolu Agency that they had not received any reports of issues so far, but officials were still assessing potential damage in more remote areas.
In response to the quake, people rushed out of their homes and offices in panic, with many choosing to stay outside in streets and parks, hesitant to return indoors. Schools in Elazig were ordered to close as a precaution.
Also Read: Nepal earthquake tragedy claims 128 lives
This region was one of the 11 provinces severely affected by a devastating earthquake that struck parts of Turkiye and northern Syria last year, which resulted in the deaths of over 53,000 people in Turkiye.
