Turkey: Magnitude-5.2 earthquake occurs in Malatya Province Feb. 27

Event

A magnitude-5.2 earthquake occurred in Malatya Province at around 12:04 Feb. 27. The epicenter was about 8 km (5 miles) south-southeast of Yesilyurt. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (5 miles), and light shaking was probably felt throughout parts of east-central and southern Turkey and northern Syria. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake. The tremor was likely an aftershock of the major magnitude-7.8 earthquake that occurred in the region on Feb. 6. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light-to-moderate aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Out of an abundance of caution, consider vacating multistory buildings where shaking occurred until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Monitor and plan for aftershocks.