An painful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 shook eastern Turkey, killing at least 19 people, injuring hundreds, the authorities said.
According to initial reports, the earthquake was felt in provinces as far as southern Adana and northern Samsun, along with northern Syria and Iraq.
The Interior Minister also said several buildings collapsed or sustained damages following the tremor.
LATEST — Emergency crews continue search and rescue efforts at the scene of collapsed buildings in Elazığ pic.twitter.com/aaBmEq40eM
— DAILY SABAH (@DailySabah) January 24, 2020
National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said the army was ready to step into action if need be. Soon after the quake, officials said hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, blankets and tents were dispatched to Elazığ and neighboring provinces.
Thousands of search and rescue crews, as well as medical personnel were also sent to the area.
The earthquake struck just before 9 p.m. in eastern Elazig province, Suleyman Soylu, Turkey’s interior minister, told reporters. At least 225 people were injured in Elazig and another 45 people were hurt in the nearby province of Malatya, southwest of the epicenter, provincial officials said.
IMAGE — Photos reveal collapsed buildings in eastern Turkey's Elazığ province in the aftermath of the major quakehttps://t.co/XKFaVlfiRR pic.twitter.com/xjF3HuqEOC
— DAILY SABAH (@DailySabah) January 24, 2020
