Antakya and Samandağ in Turkey hit by new 6.4 and 5.8 earthquakes, governor’s building damaged, tsunami warning issued

ANTAKYA, Turkey — Turkey was hit by 6.4 and 5.8 magnitude earthquakes on Monday, just two weeks after a huge earthquake claimed the lives of at least 46,000 people in Turkey and Syria.

The earthquakes occurred in Defne, between the hard-hit cities of Samandağ and Antakya in Hatay Province, and near the Syrian border.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake as a 6.4 magnitude with a depth of 10 kilometers. As a precaution, Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD) advised individuals to avoid the coastline, while the country’s vice president urged citizens to keep a safe distance from damaged structures.

Video is emerging showing the collapse of buildings damaged in the 6 February earthquake. Among the damaged buildings is reportedly the Governor’s Building.

باڵەخانەکان دەڕووخێن و هەمووان هاوار دەکەن: تیمی رووداو لە هاتای چرکەساتی بوومەلەرزەکە تۆمار دەکەن pic.twitter.com/5jdv7xDjn0

— Rudaw (@Rudawkurdish) February 20, 2023

Tonight, two earthquakes of magnitude 5.8 and 6.4 occurred in #Hatay’s Defne and Samandag districts pic.twitter.com/r3nprhv2Ju

— Cahîda Dêrsim (@botani4m) February 20, 2023

At the time of the earthquake, there was massive fear and panic at the Hatay airport. pic.twitter.com/61lkztt9Wu

— Nur Dogan (@nurdogandiyorki) February 20, 2023