A magnitude 5.6 earthquake shook the central province of Tokat on Thursday evening, leading to the collapse of a mosque minaret and damage to some buildings, the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate announced.
The earthquake, the epicenter of which was in the Sulusaray district, was followed by two aftershocks registering magnitudes of 3.4 and 3.5, leading to panic among the locals, many of whom spent the night outside, fearing a bigger earthquake.
Tokat Governor Numan Hatipoğlu said the tremors resulted in some damage to buildings but that there were no reports of casualties.
Deputy Interior Minister Münir Karaloğlu painted a clearer picture on Friday, saying that the earthquake and its aftershocks led to damage to 191 residential buildings, 84 barns, seven mosques and a bakery across 30 villages in three districts.
Although Turkey is located on several major fault lines and is one of the most seismically active regions in the world, the country’s preparedness for earthquakes is questionable.
More than 53,000 people were killed in February of last year when two powerful earthquakes struck southern and southeastern Turkey, causing widespread devastation and leaving at least 1.5 million people homeless.
Even when moderate earthquakes hit, casualties are caused by the ensuing panic, with people jumping from windows or balconies to save their lives.
Experts say people should be trained on what to do during an earthquake and how to stay safe in its aftermath.