A moderate earthquake hit central Turkey on Friday, Turkey’s emergency response said. The tremor sent some residents into the streets, but no damage was reported.
The 5.5-magnitude earthquake was centered in the city of Niksar in Tokat province at a depth of 6.4 kilometers (4 miles), according to the disaster and emergency management agency AFAD.
It happened at 3:35 a.m. and was felt in several provinces, AFAD said, adding that “no adverse developments” were reported.
Still, many residents were seen waiting in cars or on the streets despite the cold, afraid to return to their homes, Haberturk news channel reported.
Turkiye sits on top of major fault lines and earthquakes are frequent.
In 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Turkiye killed more than 53,000 people and destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings in 11 southern and southeastern provinces. Another 6,000 people were killed in northern parts of neighboring Syria.
