5.6 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Tokat Province in Turkey

A moderately strong earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 struck central Turkey on Thursday, causing damage to buildings in the town of Sulusaray in Tokat province. The quake occurred at 6:11 pm local time, with its epicenter located in Sulusaray at a depth of 5.99 kilometers.

According to Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), the earthquake was felt in neighboring provinces, including Yozgat,It was not immediately clear if it caused any casualties or damage.

Earlier in the day, Sulusaray was hit by two other earthquakes measuring 4.7 and 4.1 in magnitude. Residents in the town of Turhal, about 80 kilometers north of Sulusaray, reported that buildings and lampposts swayed like a cradle, causing people to run out of the buildings in fear.

Why this matters: Turkey is located on active fault lines, making it prone to frequent earthquakes. In February 2023, a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck parts of southern Turkey and neighboring Syria, killing more than 59,000 people and leaving millions homeless. The latest quake serves as a reminder of the ongoing seismic risk in the region.

As of now, there have been no reports of casualties or serious injuries resulting from the 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Tokat province. The Turkish Interior Minister and the Tokat Governor stated that field scans are underway by the authorities to assess the full extent of the damage. Teams from AFAD and other related agencies were dispatched to investigate the situation at the scene.

Key Takeaways

• 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck central Turkey.
• Epicenter was in Sulusaray, Tokat province, at a depth of 5.99 km.
• Earlier, two other quakes of 4.7 and 4.1 magnitude hit the same area.
• No immediate reports of casualties, authorities assessing the full damage.
• Turkey is prone to frequent earthquakes due to its active fault lines.