A 5.9-magnitude earthquake shook Turkey, damaging infrastructure

A strong 5.9 magnitude earthquake rattled Turkey at 10:46 a.m. local time on October 16, 2024, resulting to 187 injuries while several major building damages were observed. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported. According to the authorities and the statement the epicenter of the quake was Kale district of Turkey's Malatya province, while the depth was approximately 6.96km.

The Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, Murat Kurum argued that at least 20 buildings had severe damages after the earthquake in the eastern province of Elazığ, while at least 517 buildings suffered minor damages. In Malatya, 18 buildings deemed completely unsafe, while they there are reports that 3 buildings partially collapsed.

It should be noted that the earthquake was also felt at nearby provinces. However, authorities advised public to stay calm during the aftershocks. In addition, the Ministry of General Directorate of Construction Affairs stated that after the quake, 25 teams were sent to assess the damages in Malatya and 27 teams in Elazığ.

The Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority reported at least 30 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging between 1.2 to 3. To ensure safety, Malatya’s local education directorate kept the schools closed for another day.