Over 500 buildings lightly damaged in eastern Turkey quake

Duvar English

Turkey's Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum on Oct. 17 stated that 20 buildings were heavily damaged in the eastern Elazığ province after the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that took place the previous day with eastern Malatya province's Kale district as its epicenter.

Kurum shared the damage assessment on his social media account. “We have identified 20 heavily damaged and 517 slightly damaged buildings in Elazığ, and 18 slightly damaged buildings in Malatya,” and urged citizens to remain calm. 

The earthquake struck the Kale district of Malatya at 10:46 a.m. on Oct. 16 and was also felt in neighboring provinces, particularly Elazığ. Initial reports indicated partial collapses in three buildings.

As of today, 25 teams from the General Directorate of Construction Affairs of the Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Ministry conducted damage assessments in Malatya, while 27 teams worked in Elazığ. A total of 1,211 reports were evaluated in both provinces.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya also commented on the earthquake, confirming there were no fatalities, but stating that 187 people had been affected. Some 43 people were receiving inpatient care with minor injuries. 

The local education directorate announced that all schools across Malatya would remain closed for one more day. Education was halted on Oct. 16 as a precautionary measure. 

AFAD noted that 30 aftershocks ranging between magnitudes of 1.2 and 3 occurred after the 5.9 magnitude earthquake. 

On Oct. 7, two smaller earthquakes happened in Malatya's neighbor Sivas province. Kandilli Observatory reported the earthquake's magnitude as 4.7 with a depth of 3.6 km. AFAD also recorded a second earthquake ten minutes later, with a magnitude of 4.1 and a depth of 22.98 km.