Two new powerful aftershocks hammered Turkey and Syria, both countries still reeling from devastating quakes on February 6 that killed at least 47,000 people.
Faraan: A magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit the Turkey-Syria border region at a depth of just 2km (1.2 miles), the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre said. Video shared by Haluk Levent, an activist and singer, reportedly shows a collapsed building in Hatay and rescue teams from Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) working on the side.
The massive earthquakes that struck southeastern Turkey and northwestern Syria have not only caused death and destruction but also deep trauma to the survivors. Psychologists have headed to quake-hit areas to help residents cope with the devastating impact of the magnitude 7.8 and 7.6 temblors, which hit two weeks ago. They say psychosocial programmes should be implemented in the region to educate and help people cope with trauma so they can go back to routine life.
Turkey’s disaster management agency is urging residents to stay away from the Mediterranean coast, warning that waters could rise 50cm (20 inches) due to the quakes. The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority also said its teams in the region are on alert and responding to emergency calls. Assed Baig, reporting from Gaziantep, says there are reports of more structures being destroyed on the Turkish-Syrian border as aftershocks continue to rock the region.
“There are buildings that are standing but have been damaged,” Baig said. “The fear is if there are more aftershocks like this, it could bring down those buildings, threatening lives. A second earthquake of magnitude 5.8 struck southern Turkey’s Hatay province several minutes after the initial magnitude 6.4 tremor, Turkey’s emergency management agency says. The second one was centred in Hatay’s Samandag district, just southwest of where the first hit. Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay urged people to stay away from damaged buildings and to follow officials’ warnings.
