New 6.4 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Turkey and Syria Again

As the Turkish government continues the rescue operation of the earthquake which hit two weeks ago, another earthquake hit Turkey and Syria again.

As the Turkish government continues the rescue operation of people trapped under the buildings flattened by the earthquakes which hit the country two weeks ago, another new 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria again on Monday 20th February 2023. The earthquake was centered in Turkey's Hatay province which is the same province that was one the worst-hit regions quake that hit on 6th Feb 2023. 

 

The tremors were felt in Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, Israel and as far away as Egypt, and was followed by a second, magnitude 5.8 temblor. Officials said more buildings collapsed, trapping occupants, and several people were injured in both Turkey and Syria. Three people were killed and 213 injured in the fresh tremors. Hatay's mayor Lutfu Savas said, “A number of buildings collapsed in the new quake, trapping people inside. He said that these may be people who had returned to homes or were trying to move their furniture out of damaged buildings.

 

Muna Al Omar, a resident, said she was in a tent in a park when the earthquake hit. "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. Videos posted on social media showed passengers at Antakya airport taking cover in panic as the quake jolted the glass building. 

 

Turkish authorities have recorded more than 6,000 aftershocks since the initial magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck on 6th Feb. The 6th Feb 2023 quake has killed over 46000 people in Turkey and Syria till date. Authorities said more than 1,11,000 buildings across 11 quake-hit Turkish provinces were either destroyed or so severely damaged by the 6th February 2023 quake that they need to be torn down. It is being reported that people are leaving homes and staying on streets, carrying blankets into their cars. Everyone is really scared and no one wants to get back into their houses as the aftershocks continue.

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