Earthquake registering 6.3 hits Turkiye-Syria border region

Citizens on the street in the Iskenderun district of Hatay move to safe areas after the earthquake, on February 20, 2023 in Hatay, Turkiye [Elif Öztürk Özgöncü/Anadolu Agency]

An earthquake, with a magnitude 6.3 at a depth of two km (1.2 miles), struck the Turkiye-Syria border region on Monday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said, Reuters reports.

Two Reuters witnesses reported a strong quake and further damage to buildings in central Antakya which was hit by two massive earthquakes two weeks ago, causing tens of thousands of deaths and destroying buildings and infrastructure.

Other witnesses said Turkish rescue teams were running around after the latest quake, checking people were unharmed.

Muna Al Omar, a resident, said she was in a tent in a park in central Antakya when the earthquake hit.

“I thought the earth was going to split open under my feet,” she said, crying as she held her 7-year-old son in her arms.

“Is there going to be another aftershock?” she asked.

READ: Hasty rebuild could leave Turkiye at risk of another quake disaster

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