5.6 magnitude earthquake strikes Malatya, shakes multiple provinces in Eastern Türkiye
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Türkiye’s Malatya province on Wednesday morning, with tremors felt across a wide region including Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Kayseri and Sivas.
According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the quake occurred at 09:00 local time, with its epicenter located in the Battalgazi district of Malatya. The earthquake was recorded at a depth of approximately 7.03 kilometers.
No Immediate Damage Reported, Search Teams Deployed
AFAD and government officials stated that no immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage had been received as of the latest updates, while field assessment teams were deployed to affected areas.
Authorities emphasized that monitoring and inspection operations are ongoing.
Schools Suspended in Malatya as Precaution
Following the earthquake, Malatya Governor’s Office announced a one-day suspension of education across the province, citing student safety concerns.
Local institutions, including Malatya Turgut Özal University, also suspended classes at Battalgazi and Yeşilyurt campuses for the day.
Temporary Water Turbidity Reported After Quake
Malatya Metropolitan Municipality reported temporary turbidity in drinking water sources, particularly at the Gündüzbey intake facility, following the seismic activity.
Officials said the situation was caused by natural movement in water sources triggered by the earthquake, adding that technical teams were conducting ongoing analysis and monitoring. Residents were advised to use drinking water cautiously until clarity levels return to normal.
Regional Governors and Ministers Issue Statements
Governors of surrounding provinces, including Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Elazığ and Adıyaman, confirmed that the quake was felt locally but reported no immediate damage.
Turkish Interior Ministry officials stated that all AFAD and emergency response teams had been activated immediately after the tremor.
Health, environment, transport, and social services ministries also confirmed that no critical infrastructure damage had been detected, while psychosocial support and field inspections were on standby.
Officials Urge Calm and Monitoring of Official Updates
Government representatives, including senior officials and ministers, issued statements urging citizens to remain calm and follow official announcements rather than unverified social media reports.
Authorities reiterated that field assessments are continuing and that updates will be shared as new information becomes available.
