Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes Türkiye’s Tokat province, no major damage reported
AFAD said the quake occurred at 03:35 a.m. local time with its epicenter in Niksar and at a depth of 6.37 kilometers.
The tremor was felt not only in Tokat but also in nearby provinces including Samsun, Çorum, Amasya, Sinop, and other surrounding areas.
Tokat Governor Abdullah Köklü said local authorities and emergency teams began field assessments immediately after the quake.
“From the first moments of the earthquake, district governors and AFAD teams were mobilized and conducted initial damage assessments,” Köklü told reporters in Niksar.
He said there were no serious problems reported within areas under the responsibility of police and gendarmerie units.
“In some districts, there are plaster cracks in several schools and minor damage in certain places,” he said. “As daylight breaks, more detailed inspections will be carried out.”
Köklü added that some residents sought medical attention due to panic, and a number of students in dormitories sustained minor injuries while trying to evacuate buildings.
“Other than that, there does not appear to be any situation that would seriously concern us at the moment,” he said.
Initial reports from villages also indicate no major damage, he noted, explaining that many rural homes are one or two stories high, which may have reduced the impact compared with urban areas.
Authorities in neighboring provinces also reported no significant damage.
Interior Minister Çiftçi: No reports of serious damages
Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said in a statement on social media that no reports of serious damage or casualties had been received so far.
“Our teams continue field scanning and evaluation efforts,” Çiftçi said, while extending his wishes for the safety of those affected.
AFAD also confirmed that no adverse situations had been reported as of now, adding that damage assessment work is ongoing following the earthquake, which was also felt in Samsun, Amasya, Ordu, and Sivas provinces.
Source:AA
