A new 6.4 magnitude tremor yesterday hit Turkey’s Southern province of Hatay and northern Syria, killing three people and sparking fresh panic after a massive quake that left nearly 45,000 dead in both countries on February 6.
Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu confirmed that three people were killed and 213 others hospitalised.
In Syria, White Helmets said more than 130 people were injured and that some already damaged buildings had collapsed.
The disaster management agency said that another 5.8 magnitude tremor followed three minutes later and its epicenter was in the Samandag district in Hatay.
The walls of badly damaged buildings crumbled while several people apparently injured cried for help.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay urged people to stay away from damaged buildings and to follow official’s warnings.
According to reports, more than 6,000 aftershocks have been recorded since the 7.8 magnitude hit Turkey and Syria, leaving millions homeless.
Officials said that after the previous quake, aftershocks would be felt for a year because of the force of the first tremor.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip committed to build nearly 200,000 new homes within a year that were more firm and not more than four-storeys high.