Turkey jolted by massive 6.4 magnitude earthquake

Earthquake measuring 6.4 in magnitude hit western Turkey on Wednesday. Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said the earthquake struck the Acıpayam district at 9:34 a.m. local time at a depth of 11.3 kilometers (7.0 miles). Two aftershocks, measuring magnitude 4.8 and 4.5 were recorded following the earthquake, reports said. The quake was also felt in the neighboring provinces of Izmir and Antalya, a Turkey daily reported. There were no immediate reports of any damage or casualties.

The last massive earthquake to hit Turkey was in 1999 in the northwestern region. The shock had a moment magnitude of 7.6. The event lasted for 37 seconds, killing around 17,000 people. An official Turkish estimate of October 19, 1999, placed the toll at 17,127 killed and 43,959 injured, but many sources suggest the actual figure may have been closer to 45,000 dead and a similar number injured.