A magnitude 6.3 earthquake shook the Turkey-Syria border region on Monday, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), news agency Reuters reported.
The report came only hours after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised Turkey that Washington will assist “for as long as it takes” following two weeks of catastrophic, fatal earthquakes in the same region.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake at a depth of two km (1.2 miles) struck the Turkey-Syria border region, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said: Reuters
— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2023
Blinken visited a region ravaged by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and aftershocks that killed over 47,000 people in southern Turkey and northwest Syria on Sunday.
Two Reuters witnesses reported a severe quake and more building damage in central Antakya, which was devastated by two large earthquakes two weeks ago, killing tens of thousands and wrecking houses and infrastructure.
Fresh set of strong earthquake aftershocks recorded in #Turkey.
Within last 30 min, there was 6.4, 5.8 and 3.9 jolts in the quake affected Hatay province of Turkiye.— Pranay Upadhyaya (@JournoPranay) February 20, 2023
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According to witnesses, Turkish rescue crews were scurrying about after the recent quake, making sure no one was hurt.
A resident, Muna Al Omar, claimed she was under a tent in a park in downtown Antakya when the earthquake struck.
“I thought the earth was going to split open under my feet,” she said, crying as she held her 7-year-old son in her arms, Reuters reported.
“Is there going to be another aftershock?” she asked.
The quake, according to NTV television, caused several damaged structures to fall, although there were no early reports of casualties.
The quake was felt in Syria, Jordan, Israel, and Egypt, according to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency.
Earlier on February 6, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake had struck Turkey’s southeast and neighbouring Syria, killing more than 45,000 people and leaving more than a million people homeless.
(With Inputs From Agencies)