A 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck Malatya, eastern Türkiye, at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, with no casualties or major damage reported by authorities.
The earthquake’s epicenter was the district of Battalgazi, and it occurred at a depth of about 7 kilometers (4 miles).
The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said in a social media post that the earthquake was also felt in nearby provinces of Adıyaman, Elazığ, Tunceli and Şanlıurfa. The AFAD said emergency teams were combing the affected areas for any damage or casualties. Video footage from Malatya and nearby provinces showed people running out of buildings and gathering in empty lots and parks.
Malatya was severely affected by the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes that struck on Feb. 6, 2023. The earthquakes killed tens of thousands of people in the region. Since then, the province has been rocked by earthquakes of varied degrees, usually below the magnitude of 4.
Malatya Governor Seddar Yavuz said authorities received reports of partial collapses in three barns, partial damage to one house and the collapse of a retaining wall following the 5.6 magnitude earthquake centered in the Battalgazi district of Malatya.
Speaking after the Disaster Coordination Meeting held at the AFAD's Provincial Directorate, Governor Yavuz said emergency teams continued field screening and damage assessment operations across the province.
"Our 112 Emergency Call Center received 82 calls. Of these, 32 were related to damage assessments and 50 were requests for information and consultation,” he said.
Yavuz noted that rock fragments also fell from a hillside in the Pütürge Kubbe Mountain area due to the earthquake and that necessary interventions had been carried out.
He stated that 74 people applied to health institutions after the tremor, with 15 seeking help due to fear and panic and another 15 suffering minor injuries. He added that 46 people had been treated and discharged, while 18 citizens remained under observation in hospitals. No fatalities or critically injured patients were reported.
The governor also said schools across Malatya would remain closed for one day following the earthquake.
Highlighting reconstruction efforts carried out after the devastating 2023 earthquakes, Yavuz said Malatya had become more resilient against future disasters.
"We built 124,000 housing units resistant to earthquakes. This is one of the reasons that there was not significant damage today,” he said.
According to a statement by Malatya Metropolitan Municipality, temporary turbidity was also detected in drinking water following the earthquake.
The municipality said the tremor caused cloudiness at the Gündüzbey water source used for supplying drinking water in Battalgazi district due to natural movement in underground water resources.
"Necessary inspections, monitoring and water analysis studies are being meticulously carried out by our teams in the region. The process is being closely monitored to protect public health, and technical interventions are continuing uninterrupted,” the statement said.
Authorities advised residents to be cautious when using drinking water until clarity levels return to normal, adding that updates would continue to be shared with the public.