5.8-magnitude quake hits southwest Turkey
A 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Marmaris area in Turkey’s southwestern Mugla province early Tuesday, killing one person and injuring some 70 others, the interior minister said.
“A 5.8 magnitude earthquake occurred in Marmaris, Mugla. Regarding the earthquake that was also felt in the surrounding provinces, AFAD [Disaster and Emergency Management Authority] and all teams of our relevant institutions continue field scans,” Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X.
A 14-year-old girl lost her life after suffering a panic attack, and at least 69 others were injured across the province’s districts, according to Yerlikaya.
“The examinations and treatments of 46 of our citizens continue in the emergency room,” the interior minister said, adding that 14 people were treated on site and eight were discharged.
AFAD said that the earthquake struck at 2:17 am in the Mediterranean Sea, ten kilometers off the coast of Marmaris.
Turkey’s frequent earthquakes are caused by its location at the convergence of the Anatolian, Eurasian, and Arabian tectonic plates, with the Arabian plate pushing the Anatolian plate westward, generating intense seismic activity.
In late April, a powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul, which was followed by over 50 aftershocks. At least 151 people sustained mild injuries due to the quake, but buildings and civil infrastructure remained largely undamaged.
(Source:Rudaw)
