A 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck the province of Malatya in Turkey.
According to the website of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) under the government of Turkey, the earthquake was recorded at 10:46 local time.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located in the city of Kale.
Citizens hurriedly left their homes and offices, gathering in nearby parks and squares.
The earthquake was also felt in the provinces of Şanlıurfa, Adıyaman, Kilis, Gaziantep, and Kahramanmaraş.
A number of damaged buildings in Kale were cordoned off, and enhanced security measures were implemented.
The governor of Malatya province, Seddar Yavuz, stated that there were no victims reported.
“We saw pictures of collapsed buildings on social media, but these are old photographs, which we later demolished under control. Therefore, we ask citizens not to spread fake pictures that could cause panic,” he said.
Yavuz noted that inspections were being conducted following the earthquake, and stated that there was no information about victims, injuries, or destruction, and that people were simply frightened.
Meanwhile, the governor called on citizens not to approach buildings that had been evacuated previously.
As a safety measure, schools were closed for a day.
The head of the regional AFAD office, Ali Altyndal, confirmed that there was no information about victims or damage.
The Minister of Interior of Turkey, Ali Yerlikaya, reported that one building in Malatya and another in Şanlıurfa and Elazığ partially collapsed as a result of the earthquake, with no casualties or material damage reported.
The emergency medical center received 374 calls, with 33 cases where citizens asked for help, the minister added.
