7.8 magnitude earthquake hits Turkey, aftershocks will continue

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southern Turkey on Monday causing untold damage, with aftershocks continuing throughout the day.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) told CNN on Monday that the earthquake was “24.1 kilometers (14.9 miles) deep, located 23 kilometers (14.2 miles) east of Nurdagi, in Gaziantep Province”.

The quake was apparently felt most strongly in the city of Gaziantep, according to Governor Davut Gul.

“Please let’s wait outside without panicking. Let’s not use our cars. Let’s not block the main roads. Let’s not keep the phones busy,” he said on Twitter.

CNN noted that aftershocks were felt in southern and central Turkey throughout Monday, with a magnitude of up to 6.7:

About 11 minutes after the main quake, the strongest aftershock of magnitude 6.7 hit about 32 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of the main quake’s epicenter. Another intense aftershock with a magnitude of 5.6 then occurred 19 minutes after the main quake.

Journalist Eyad Kourdi, who lives in the city of Gaziantep, told CNN there were up to eight “very strong” aftershocks in less than a minute after the 7.8 magnitude quake triggered the fall of his personal effects. Many of his neighbors left their homes after the quake, he added.

Strong aftershocks are likely to continue in the hours and even days to come after an earthquake as strong as this, according to CNN meteorologists.

The extent of the damage in terms of infrastructure and fatalities remains unknown to date. The quake comes more than two years after the country experienced a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in 2020 near the Aegean Sea, hitting both Turkey and Greece. According to Fox News, at least 57 people were killed and 900 others injured.