An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 shook the Kale district of Malatya province in Türkiye at 10:46 a.m. (local time) on Wednesday.
According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD), the epicenter was located at a depth of approximately 10.07 kilometers. This region has already suffered serious damage during a devastating earthquake in February 2023, which caused the death of more than 53,500 people in Turkey and nearly 6,000 in Syria.
So far, authorities have not reported any casualties or material damage. Malatya City Hall said no alarming reports had been received, and Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that rescue teams were deploying to assess the impacts of the earthquake.
Despite no reported destruction, primary and secondary schools in the province were closed as a safety measure. The tremor was felt in several large surrounding cities, including Diyarbakir, about 140 km from the epicenter, prompting a rapid evacuation of residents from their buildings.
The European Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) reported that the earthquake was recorded with a magnitude of 6.1. Damage assessments are continuing in the most remote areas, but the first returns are reassuring.
